Baker’s 13 Bourbon Review

Baker’s
Single Barrel
13 Years Minimum
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
107 Proof
MSRP: $129.99
Review

Please enjoy our Baker’s 13 Single Barrel Bourbon Review!

So Who Was Baker?

Baker’s Bourbon was named by Booker Noe after his cousin, Baker Beam. Baker grew up at the Jim Beam Distillery in Clermont, Kentucky, and later on worked there for 38 years. In 1974 he became a distiller, and after he retired, Baker’s Bourbon was born. Originally, it was part of the “Small Batch Collection” developed by Booker and introcuced in 1992. However, in 2019, Baker’s was rebranded as a single barrel bourbon bearing a 7 year age statement, although many bottles are a year or so older than that. The first limited release of Baker’s 13 Bourbon was also in 2019, to commemorate the event. Now, in 2023, Baker’s 13 Single Barrel Bourbon is being released for the second time. However, it again is a limited release and only available in select markets as well as the distillery.

Baker’s 13 Bourbon Mash Bill

Baker’s Bourbon is made from Beam’s standard bourbon mash bill of (give or take a percent or two) 75% corn, 13% rye & 12% malted barley. According to the BakersBourbon.com site, Baker’s barrels age on the higher floors of the warehouses. That being the case, we would expect some interesting characteristics at 13 years, since generally older barrels aren’t left to age up that high.

Tasting Notes – Baker’s 13 Review

Let’s taste it:

🛏 Rested for 15 minutes in a Glencairn

👉Nose: Oak, brown sugar, burnt caramel, tobacco; soft, sweet fruits like red delicious apples & pears; very subtle smokiness; fairly light alcohol
👉Taste: Oak, cherry, brown sugar, sweet caramel
👉Finish: The flavors and sweetness continue and gradually fade; the oak lingers as well, but blends with white pepper spice and some soft barrel char which last into the very long finish; relatively mild burn

Well-Aged Bourbon Flavors

Baker’s 13 has all the flavors that I expect in a well aged bourbon. The only thing is, it’s not all that old. While 13 years is certainly no youngster, if I had to guess the age on this, I would have put it at 17+. The oak that dominates is fairly sweet early on, becoming drier towards the finish. And while the oak is the dominant flavor to me, it is not overpowering; I would by no means consider this bourbon “over-oaked”. There is plenty of brown sugar, burnt caramel, and even fruit, to balance out the flavors as well.

Conclusion

Baker’s 13 Bourbon is the epitome of flavors that I love, and for me, an absolutely delicious bourbon. If you enjoy well-aged bourbon flavors, then this 2023 release of Baker’s 13 is definitely worth seeking out. However, as is the case with the younger Baker’s, the 13 year version is a single barrel as well, so your results may vary. Although, I hope they don’t vary too much!

Have you tried Baker’s 13 Bourbon? What did you think?

We hope you have enjoyed our Baker’s 13 Single Barrel Bourbon Review! Would you like to learn about another limited release from the Small Batch Collection? Check out our Knob Creek 18 Year Bourbon Review!

Would you like to learn more about distilleries and bourbon? Are you planning a trip to Kentucky Distilleries? Maybe you would like to live the bourbon life vicariously through us? If any of these are true, then check out BourbonObsessed.com today!