The Original Small Batch Bourbon Collection

The Small Batch Bourbon Collection from Beam Global

I have a customer who every time he comes in, always requests the same drink: Knob Creek, neat. On one of the nights he came in, we had a chance to talk “shop” about whiskey and bourbon and the different types within the category. Surprisingly, I armed my regular customer with so much newfound information on his drink of choice. Now each time he comes into the bar and I have time, we pick a certain bourbon or whiskey off the shelf and talk about it. This is part of how I get inspired to write many of the articles I post here on Examiner.com. A majority of my inspiration comes from my customers, which is why I dedicate this article to my friend and regular, Mike, the Knob Creek drinker.

According to Fred Noe, 7th Generation Beam Distiller, “Tasting one of these small batch bourbons is like tasting the past. This is the way bourbon used to be. The way it was meant to be.” In 1988, Booker Noe, the grandson of Jim Beam decided to bring back the tradition of small batch bourbon making that had been popular before Prohibition. Before Prohibition, this type of bourbon was only made in small quantities, was more potent, more aged and more varied. The result has been the Small Batch Bourbon Collection from Beam Global. Beam Global features four different bourbons in their Small Batch Bourbon Collection: Bookers, Basil Hayden, Bakers and Knob Creek.

Bookers
In 1988, Bookers was the first bourbon to be made and featured in the Small Batch Bourbon Collection. Originally, Booker Noe would bottle straight-from-the-barrel bourbon and give as gifts to close friends and family. This bourbon is aged between 6 and 8 years and is bottled uncut and unfiltered. It’s bottled at 125-proof.

Tasting Notes:
Color: Deep, rich, smoky amber
Aroma: Big oak, vanilla, smoky charcoal
Taste: Intense, fruit, tannin, tobacco
Finish: Clean, long, intense

Basil Hayden
Master Distiller Basil Hayden Sr. created the original recipe back in 1796. Basil Hayden incorporates twice as much rye as the other bourbons in the collection. Basil Hayden is hand bottled at 80-proof and is aged for 8 years.

Tasting Notes:
Color: Golden amber
Aroma: Spice, tea, hint of peppermint
Taste: Spicy, peppery, honey, light-bodied, gentle bite
Finish: Dry, clean, brief

Bakers
Bakers is named after Jim Beam’s grandnephew, Baker Beam. This bourbon is bottled at 107-proof and is aged for 7 years. Bakers incorporates a special strain of jug yeast that has been in the Beam family for over 60 years.

Tasting Notes:
Color: Warm amber, tawny, nut brown
Aroma: Fruit, vanilla, caramel
Taste: Toasted nuts, fruit, vanilla, silky texture
Finish: Sweet, smooth, medium-long

Knob Creek
Knob Creek is named after Knob Creek, Kentucky-the childhood home of President Abraham Lincoln. This bourbon is aged for 9 years in new, charred American white oak barrels. Knob Creek is bottled at 100-proof in a bootlegger’s flask-shaped bottle, with an old-time newspaper-inspired label. Knob Creek is currently the world’s leading ultra-premium bourbon.

Tasting Notes:
Color: Copper to medium amber
Aroma: Toasted nuts, grain oak
Taste: Rich, sweet, woody, full-bodied, almost fruity
Finish: Long, rich and glowing

Source:
The Original Small Batch Bourbon Collection
The Virtual Spirit Experience

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