By The Fire: Jim Beam Small Batch Collection Flight

One of the first flights of bourbon I ever tried was the Jim Beam Small Batch Collection. It was many years ago now, and at that time, I don't think Knob Creek was considered part of the Small Batch Collection, although you could certainly get it. I had my flight in the bar of one of our favorite boutique hotels in North Conway, NH: Stonehurst Manor, and the flight was Booker's, Baker's and Basil Hayden.

The addition of Knob Creek isn't the only change the flight has seen since those days. When I had that first flight, Baker's was a small batch bourbon, but in 2019 Beam Suntory decided to make Baker's a single barrel, since at the time Jim Beam didn't produce a super premium single barrel offering.

Sharing the Small Batch Collection with the Mafia

At a fireside tasting back in late October, I poured a Small Batch Collection flight for Dan, Mitch, and Connor consisting of the three pours from that original flight: Booker's (Boston Batch), Bakers (Single Barrel 107), and Basil Hayden, although I did mix things up a little by putting the high-rye Basil Hayden at the beginning of the flight. This worked well as the guys generally mistook it for a higher proof option than it really is - probably due to its rye content, and having their palates not quite acclimated.

As always, the first three pours were blind so the guys didn't know what was in their glass.  Remarkably, they didn't guess until we were into the third pour, when Dan correctly identified Booker's and the rest of the flight unfolded pretty quickly.

Jim Beam Small Batch Collection Tasting Notes

Basil Hayden:  80 Proof. Undisclosed mash bill estimated at 63% corn, 27% rye, 10% malted barley.  NAS but aged at least 4 years.

• Nose: Rye grain, old wood, brown sugar
• Palate: Light caramel notes, mint, dry, mild peppery spice
• Finish: Short, dry, tobacco, char

Baker's Single Barrel: 107 Proof. Undisclosed mash bill estimated at 77% corn, 13% rye, and 10% malted barley. Aged 7 years on the top floor of the warehouse.

• Nose: Vanilla, citrus, cinnamon, oak
• Palate: Caramel, grain, brown sugar, tobacco
• Finish:  Barrel char, slight hint of peanuts, strong, medium-length Kentucky Hug

Booker's Boston Batch:  126.5 Proof, unfiltered.  Undisclosed mash bill estimated at 77% corn, 13% rye, and 10% malted barley. Aged 6 years.

• Nose: Brown sugar, pecans, yeast, cinnamon
• Palate: Brown sugar, lemon peel, caramel, char
• Finish: Long,  peanuts, yeast, Kentucky hug is slow and deep in the chest, making it seem mild for its proof

The Bonus Pour: Knob Creek 9 Year Old Bourbon

Since its now officially part of the Small Batch Collection, it only made sense to have a pour of Knob Creek 9 as our bonus pour for the evening. At 100 proof, Knob Creek strikes a nice balance between the high and low proof options earlier in the evening. Like Booker's and Baker's, Knob Creek uses the standard Jim Beam Mash Bill, but its extra age gives it much more character than the family line products. It was a nice finish to a great evening of good whiskey and good fellowship by the fire.

Cheers!