Baker's 13 Year Old Single Barrel Bourbon
53.5% ABV (107 proof) | 13 years old | 750mL | Single barrel — Baker's 13 Year Old Single Barrel is the annual limited edition from the Baker's line, distilled by James B. Beam Distilling Co. in Clermont, Kentucky. Named for Baker Beam (1937–2021) — grandnephew of Jim Beam and sixth-generation retired Beam family distiller — Baker's launched in 1992 as part of the Small Batch Bourbon Collection and moved to single barrel in October 2019, when the 13 Year debuted. Since August 2023 it has returned every year as an annual limited release. Available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.
At 13 years this is unusually old for a Beam bourbon — the house style is built around distillation and barrel-entry parameters designed to shine at seven years, so taking it to 13 makes oak the structural backbone rather than flavoring. The 107 proof is deliberate — the brand holds the line at a proof where "the whiskey can speak for itself." Official notes: fruit, vanilla, and caramel on the nose; medium-bodied palate of oak, toasted nuts, and vanilla; a robust, warmly rounded, medium-long finish. Each bottle comes from one barrel and displays its barrel number on the neck — barrels differ, and that's the point. A collector-grade bourbon for the Beam completist.
Tasting notes
Nose: fruit, vanilla, caramel. Palate: oak, toasted nuts, vanilla, fruity notes. Finish: robust, medium-long, warmly rounded. (Per James B. Beam official notes.)
Why buy it from Del Mesa Liquor
- 53.5% ABV (107 proof) — 13-year age statement
- Single barrel — every bottle comes from one barrel, with the barrel number on the neck
- Distilled at James B. Beam Distilling Co., Clermont, Kentucky
- Annual limited edition
- Available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor
How to serve it
Neat or with a large cube; a few drops of water open the toasted-nut character. Pairs with dark chocolate and toasted almonds.
Frequently asked questions
How does Baker's 13 differ from the flagship 7-year Baker's?
Same 107 proof, six more years in the barrel — richer oak, deeper toasted nut, more structure.
What does "single barrel" mean here?
Every bottle comes from one individual barrel (number printed on the neck) — no blending across barrels, so bottles vary.
Who was Baker Beam?
Baker Beam (1937–2021), grandnephew of Jim Beam, was a sixth-generation Beam family distiller — the brand carries his name and philosophy.
Why is 13 years unusual for Beam?
Jim Beam's house style is tuned to shine at seven years; 13 takes it into slow-integration territory, with oak as the backbone.