Baker’s Bourbon has re-released Baker’s 13, a limited-edition 13-year-old single barrel bourbon bottled at 107 proof. The expression arrives during a milestone year for the brand’s namesake, Baker Beam, who turned 90 this year.
The release celebrates Baker Beam, the grandnephew of distiller Jim Beam, whose approach continues to define the Baker’s Bourbon brand.
At 13 years, the bourbon “showcases how time and warehouse location can create distinction from barrel to barrel,” according to the brand.
The official tasting notes from the brand list fruit, vanilla and caramel on the nose. The palate carries oak, toasted nuts, vanilla and fruit. The finish is described as “robust, warmly rounded.”
The brand said the timing “feels especially fitting: 13 years in the barrel, 90 years of Baker Beam, and a bourbon built around the idea that individuality is worth celebrating.” Baker’s 13 carries a suggested retail price of $149.99.
Beam was raised on the grounds of the Jim Beam Distillery in Clermont, Kentucky, where he began his career. He started as a night watchman during high school. Over time, he worked his way up to become Jim Beam’s distiller.
“Never one for the spotlight, Baker was more comfortable with a wrench and a flashlight doing whatever it took to keep the bourbon flowing,” the brand said. Beam retired after 38 years at the distillery.
The Baker’s brand traces its origins to Beam’s cousin, Booker Noe, described by the brand as “the undeniable father of small batch bourbon.” Noe developed the Small Batch Collection in Boston, Kentucky. Baker’s was among the first super-premium bourbons created for the range, made for his cousin.
The Baker’s brand first launched in 1992. The 13-year-old is a limited annual release distilled from a low-rye recipe.
Baker’s Bourbon forms part of the wider Jim Beam portfolio, which is owned by Suntory Global Spirits. The Small Batch Collection also includes Knob Creek, Basil Hayden and Booker’s, positioning the range within the premium American whiskey category.
Read the full article at Baker’s 13 Bourbon Returns for Baker Beam’s 90th Birthday
