Top 20 Whiskies of 2019

#16 • Baker’s Single Barrel (No. 000185706)

  • Rank: 16
  • Year: 2019
  • Score: 93
  • Price: $60
  • ABV: 53.5%
  • Style: Straight Bourbon
  • Place of Origin: Kentucky

Poor Baker Beam, great-nephew of Jim Beam. His eponymous Baker’s bourbon ended up a sleeper bottle alongside rightfully lauded Booker’s bourbon and stellar limited editions of Knob Creek. But this year, Baker’s has reason to boast, as it gets the single-barrel treatment. It will remain 107 proof and a minimum of 7 years old. However, the addition of details like barreling date, age, warehouse, and barrel number will make for fun treasure hunting. Our bottle offered a lush palate of blackberries, delicious dried fruits, licorice, and cinnamon. —Jeffery Lindenmuth