James B. Beam Distillery is all about family and legacy. Just look at who runs the show. Father-son head-distiller duo Fred and Freddie Noe are living descendants of the Beam family line. They still craft the foundational eponymous bourbon as well as newer popular labels Knob Creek and Booker's.
As such, Beam finds special ways to celebrate that lineage by, as you'd expect, making delicious whiskey. One of the brand's labels, Baker's—which is named after Jim Beam's grand-nephew Baker—is one of the most exclusive and special. For every release, a single barrel is siphoned into limited-edition bottles, so no two Baker's releases are the same.
Continuing in that tradition, Baker's just dropped its Single Barrel High Rye Bourbon. It's distilled to 107 proof and aged for a minimum of seven years. And I was lucky enough to snag a bottle to try.
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After removing the hefty metal cap, I poured the bourbon into a Glencairn. The auburn-hued liquid smelled of cinnamon, rye spice, caramel, and a touch of mint. When I took a sip, my palate tasted tobacco, leather, cinnamon, and the signature Beam peanut flavor. A dry finish lingered, leaving a pleasant spice on my tongue.
According to the brand, Baker Beam, who owned the trucking business that delivered grains to the distillery, learned to appreciate the rye, corn, and barley he shipped and how each altered bourbon's flavor.
Chris Hatler
This new high-rye bourbon proves that. It's a home-run bourbon for rye fans: equal parts spicy and sweet. I personally don't reach for rye whiskey, but Baker's High Rye was a nice change of pace from the high-corn bourbon I typically sip.
Baker is still kicking at 88 years old. He ran Jim Beam as master distiller alongside his cousin Booker Noe (Fred's father) when the company released its famous Jim Beam Black in 1978, which is still a fan favorite as far as cheap whiskey is concerned. Although Baker retired in 1992, he still comes by the distillery occasionally.
I hope to look back on a legacy like that when I'm in my 80s. But for now, I'll keep enjoying the fruits of Baker's labor.
Baker's High Rye Bourbon is on shelves now for $75 per 750ml bottle. But, like many limited-edition releases, it's surely not going to last long. So get a bottle while you can and toast to the man himself.
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