Baker’s Single Barrel Last Drop Review
Last Drop Review
A review designed to explore how a bottle changes over the time it’s opened.
Age: 7 Year 3 Months
ABV: 53.5%
Cask: Virgin Oak Cask
MSRP: $60
Distillery Name: Jim Beam
Open For: 2 Years +
Opinion Through the Bottle: Baker’s 7 Year Single Barrel was a great whisky that didn’t seem to stay great in the bottle. When this was announced, I was excited that Jim Beam had taken a risk by changing this to a single barrel expression. But after my first review, I felt that Jim Beam really hadn’t changed much at all – Baker’s remained a great (if a bit right down the middle) Kentucky bourbon. So its first impression was good; and it slowly became a go to pour for me – but I quickly realized it wasn’t because I was enamored with what I was drinking – instead, it was because it was an easy, no frills, higher proof pour. It was hardly what I was expecting from a nearly $60 bottle.
Over the course of my time with this bottle of Baker’s, the wood notes became even more pronounced – but sadly not in a vintage, antique wood exciting way, but more in the cheap lumber section of Home Depot. The palate swelled with creamed corn and dusty peanuts, while the finish turned up more cinnamon than on its first impression. Overall, the nose, palate, and finish all became less exciting with time – leaving me a bit underwhelmed by the end.
Score: 86
Will I restock this?
While Baker’s remains a good, solid choice from Jim Beam, I won’t be rushing out to get another bottle soon. If I wanted some classic Jim Beam, I’d struggle to pick this over a slightly cheaper (and higher proof) Knob Creek single barrel.
At this point, I’m not even sure what the real market positioning is for Baker’s. It’s certainly not the only single barrel Jim Beam puts out (looking at your Knob Creek), definitely isn’t the only higher proof small batch (Booker’s), and isn’t the mainstream product that Basil Hayden is positioned as. So while its availability and branding has gotten better, it still feels like it plays a bit of second fiddle in the whole Jim Beam portfolio.
