Bourbon:Basil Hayden’s
Distillery: Jim Beam
Age: 8 years
Proof: 80; approx 40% abv ,
Notes: Basil Hayden’s Bourbon dates back to 1796, when Master Distiller Basil Hayden Sr. created this recipe which contains twice as much rye as the other Small Batch Collection Bourbons.
Color: Golden Amber
Nose: Spicey rye, brown sugar
Taste: For both those who love Bourbon and those who are just being introduced to the flavors of various Bourbons, Basil Hayden’s is approachable and makes a quick friend with it’s gentle and smooth characteristics.  The spiciness of the rye compliments the sweetness of the corn and give way to honey and pepper notes.  Jim Beam Master Distiller Fred Noe explains more about Basil Hayden’s and the Small Batch Collection in the video below from his annual Bourbon Q in Bardstown, Kentucky.
Finish: Crisp, warm, with pepper lingering only briefly.

Popularity: 10% [?]

Bourbon: Baker’s Bourbon
Distillery: Jim Beam
Age: 7 years
Proof: 107; approx 53.5% abv ,
Notes: Baker’s is made with a Beam family recipe preferred by Baker Beam, grand nephew of Jim Beam. It uses a strain of jug yeast for making Bourbons that been in the Beam family for over 50 years.
Color: Tawny, warm amber.
Nose: Hot caramel, very “Autumn-like” oriented scents, a pleasant musk. Slight vanilla.
Taste: Toasted nuts, silky texture. Again, a lot of Autumn flavor which encompasses that taste in the air as leaves fall and temperature is changing. Jim Beam Master Distiller Fred Noe tells BourbonBlog.com that this Bourbon is popular with Single Malt and Scotch drinkers, he explains in the video below where we interview Fred at his annual Bourbon Q in Bardstown, Kentucky.
Finish: Sweet and smooth medium finish.  Some sting on the end notes that open into a delicious back of the throat glow of caramel.

Baker’s was awarded a Gold Medal Bourbon by Wine Enthusiast.

Popularity: 10% [?]

Bourbon: Booker’s True Barrel Bourbon
Distillery: Jim Beam
Age: between 6 and 8 years
Proof: varies by bottling.  Bottle we are reviewing is 130.1; approx 65.05% abv , Whiskey Professors told us this bottling is slightly higher than they have been previously.
Notes: In 1988, Booker Noe introduced this first modern-day barrel proof Bourbon whiskey to reflect the way Bourbon used to be over a hundred years ago.  We’ve linked a video from 1993 on this for you to watch below.   This “barrel proof” Bourbon is unfiltered and had no water added. It goes straight from the barrel strength into the bottle. Most Bourbons and whiskies are lowered in proof and adjusted in flavor by adding water.
Color: Deep and smoky amber.  Darker than most Bourbons.
Nose: Smokey charcoal with powerful oak and caramel-nut and vanilla.
Taste: A Bourbon Lover’s ultimate sipping Bourbon. Huge, round tobacco, some oak, and intense tannins. Let your tongue swim in the true flavor the barrel, it will thank you.
Finish: Powerful and long.

Booker Noe (1929–2004) was the grandson of Jim Beam and 6th generation Master Distiller.

STATEMENT FROM DIRECTOR OF VIDEO:

From the late 1980′s to the late 1990′s I made over 100 videos for Jim Beam Brands. I helped them document the 200th anniversary, the Small Batch Collection, DeKuyper, The Dalmore, Vox and more. But what I enjoyed most was being in Bardstown hanging with Booker and his family. Booker was so nice to us and welcomed us into his house. We really tried to capture the spirit and heritage of Jim Beam, Booker & Freddie. As a director, the land, the rack houses, the smell of the air and the history are very difficult things to convey in a video. I hope we did them justice. This video was about 25 days of shooting over several months, and months of editing after that. I’m very happy with how it came out. As my friend Booker said, “Bourbon is the American Spirit, made in America, by Americans, now here’s looking at ya” Enjoy!
Dedicated to Booker Noe
Steve Weiss, Director
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Popularity: 13% [?]