Bakers - Wins Awards But Gets No Love Here?

[JamesW]

Howdy,

JBB is my favorite, but I'll have to put Baker's on my "must sample" list. Is it good with Diet Coke?

Eggman

Dunno, I drink my whiskey neat or with some ice if it's a Stagg. If you're mixing with Coke I'd stick to some of the cheaper stuff (But no slouch) like Weller Special Reserve ($13) or Weller Antique ($19). I'm not knocking mixers but I think $40 for a Baker's is high priced for a mixer.

[DowntownD]

I absolutely love Booker's, with just a couple of ice cubes and a teeny bit of water.

I haven't tried Baker's yet, but it sounds like I should. Great thread and discussion.

[RWBadley]

I just found a dusty Bakers 107 and brought it home. Anybody familiar with the batch coding? This one states B-85-001

[bobbyc]

I think you found one of the very first batch.

[Gillman]

I think so too (the plainish white label would give it away). If so, this is the best Baker's. I recall tasting a sample kindly offered by Tim Sousley, and have had it on other occasions. It had a velvety texture and a vigorous yet refined taste. Rather better than subsequent bottlings, IMO.

Gary

[RWBadley]

I think so too (the plainish white label would give it away).

Gary

Yes that's it.

So, I'm doing a quick side by side with Old Rip 10 107. The 10 bottle is 2/3 full the last few years so has aired a bit. The 10 nose is initially more open and malty with sweet vanilla maple.

The Bakers 107 is more closed in as it's just getting unleashed. Dry. Cedar. The initial flavors show the Bakers potential.

After 15 minutes time, The Rip has softened a bit and shows more wood. Still sweet. Full palate. Medium finish.

The Bakers has hints of licorice now. Sandlewood. Bubblegum. Sweat. Leather. Spearmint. Lavender. You all might have more Bourbon type descriptors, I gotta go off what I know.

At the 1/2 hour. The Bakers has come into it's own. These are both excellent Bourbon. Bakers holds body better and has more deep complexity. The Rip is a sweet young girl with it's seeming freshness, but the Bakers really holds interest. Less fusil even than the Rip, which surprises me a little, cuz the rip is dam smooth.

Both made me chase to the bottom of the glass, so we all win ;-) Soundtrack for this adventure provided by Junior Wells.

Cheers,

RW

[d_nelly78]

This has been my favorite bourbon since I started going off the beaten path. I enjoyed a few bottles of it priced wrong at the Class Six on post. They fixed themselves and have it over 40$ now. It was a great value at $25. I should have bought up all their stock.:smiley_acbt:

[Eggman]

Howdy,

Money is really tight these days. I can't wait to sample a 5th of Baker's. From what I'm reading around here it sounds almost like Baker's is really JBB, but delivered to us straight from the barrel to the bottle. This might explain it's higher proof rating.

Eggman

PS: In 3 more weeks I plan to acquire my first bottle of Baker's. I'll check back with my review then.

[cowdery]

Having followed some of your other posts, Eggman, I suggest you get off the Jim Beam train. Nothing wrong with the Beam products, but you're basically just drinking variations on the same whiskey. Try some Buffalo Trace products (Buffalo Trace, Old Charter, Eagle Rare, W. L. Weller, etc.) or some from Heaven Hill (Evan Williams, Elijah Craig, Old Fitzgerald) or Brown-Forman (Old Forester, Woodford Reserve). Nothing against Beam, but you've been through their portfolio pretty thoroughly without even dipping a toe into the other producers.

[Eggman]

Howdy,

Baker's isn't available at my local liquor store, so I had the mgr special order a 5th for me. It'll be in my hands in 48 hours or so.

Cowdery: Your observation is mostly accurate. However I've enjoyed one or two bottles of WT101 since last Summer, which isn't a Beam product. Your point is taken about learning to experiment. I'll keep ya'll posted.

Eggman

[drli]

if available to you.. i would go for the 3 bottle sampler offered by CostCo. One bottle of each, Basil Hayden's, Bakers, Bookers.... all 3 for $99.99.

cheap...

[Eggman]

Howdy,

OK, after two samplings of Baker's I wanted to share some first impressions. Understanding readers must bear in mind that I'm a tenderfoot when it comes to Bourbon, but here goes..

NOSE: Raisins, Nuts perhaps some Leather

MOUTH: A pleasant mix of Pepper (The Pepper observation is one of just two I noticed immediately), nuts and Maple. This is difficult as there is so much complexity compared to anything I've had previously. It's hearty, food-like. Oh, yes and the burn. It's there, but even I can handle it.

FINISH: Since I take my bourbon with varying amounts of Diet Coke (In this case equal parts Bourbon and Diet Coke), I'll skip this one. I'm just not qualified.

Two common observations about Baker's proved accurate: The Burn and the Pepper flavor. Both were a pleasant suprise. Baker's cost me just $34 and is worth it. I noticed that the higher alcohol content (53%) doesn't jump out the way one might expect. The flavor of Baker's borders on being chameleon-like with it's ever-changing nuances. This redneck is impressed.

Overall, I'll rank Baker's as a 2 thumbs up. More later.

Eggman

[jwrussell]

The World Whiskey Awards named it "World's Best Bourbon".

SF's World Spirits Competition 2008 awarded it "Double Gold" a few years running now.

I was wondering why Bakers doesn't seem to get any accolades on this site. I am always tempted to buy it but then someone always seems to scare me off doing so. Anyone love this bourbon as much as the critics? Can anyone set me straight once and for all so I don't even think of reaching for it? For $36 it looks very tempting!

Either way I just want to know what it's all about.

I love the stuff. I always try to have a bottle around. I find the nose on this bourbon to be one of the best around.

[B1bomber]

Love Bakers here also. I actually think it's one of the most underrated. Put it against others in the more expensive $50ish range and it holds up more than okay. I actually prefer it over Booker's.

[mozilla]

Sorry to say that I have sworn off the Beam family of products. Their philosophy is just not "my speed". I will do my best to abide by my own decision for the future, though it is tough sometimes while out, because Beam is in the well at alot of establishments in Austin. I will still buy any ND label(dusty) that Beam now owns, those are real special. I don't consider that going agianst my grudge. I saw their new marketing slogan, it says something about 'what's inside that counts'.......well, I say, they should check what's inside a bottle of Crow, that might tell them a little more about themselves than they want to know.

So, I say "no love" for Bakers.

Sorry, for the rant.