Nutty undertone | Peanut brittle | Touch of apricot | Leather | Graham cracker | Very nice introduction

Leather | Tobacco | Aged oak | Caramel | Slightly thin mouthfeel

Slight rye spice | Leather | Hint of summer fruits | Medium length

Baker’s 13 Year is a limited edition version of the company’s standard product, which carries a 7 year age statement but is otherwise also bottled as a single barrel at the same 107 proof point. The brand derives its name from Baker Beam, sixth generation master distiller and the grand nephew of Jim Beam, working at Jim Beam Distillery from 1954-1992.

This annual limited edition bottle is a single barrel release, so quality and flavor profile will vary from barrel to barrel. While the 2025 bottle in review maintains that quintessential nuttiness, especially on the nose, it doesn’t reach the heights the 2024 bottle did. The bourbon’s aroma is the absolute highlight of the sip, which has a nutty undertone and brings layers of peanut brittle, apricot, leather, and graham cracker. From there, however, the body of the sip is somewhat thin and doesn’t live up to the benchmark set at the onset. Tobacco, leather, aged oak, and caramel are all present, with rye spice and a hint of summer fruits brightening up the finish. The end result is that this particular barrel just doesn’t move up into more notable territory. It’s a solid sip overall, but not memorable.

The bottle in review is from barrel #000075715.