Knob Creek 12 Year Cask Strength Bourbon

Remarkably, I seem to be the first to review this one, so here goes. Nose - Rich caramel, oak, and overwhelmingly sweet notes. French vanilla, cherry, and even notes of gummy candies. It strongly resembles a sweet profile from a specific distillery. Yes, there's a hint of aged oak, but I'm not detecting any nuttiness yet. Taste - This is ideal for relaxation. It presents a multitude of fruits, nuts, oak, and caramel, but they are so densely integrated that it's challenging to process them all at once. Hints of chocolate are emerging. This is a potent spirit, much more intense than a typical single barrel offering. Adding a few drops of water reveals the oak's complexity. Truly interesting flavors and character are emerging. I am, once again, astounded by the quality this distillery can produce, but I'm also concerned about potential issues with individual bottles, as I've had a poor experience with a previous offering. Still, this bottle scores a 3.25, placing it among strong contenders. One final observation: the proof was 120.5, making me wonder if they blended underproofed barrels that fell short of 120 with a few higher proof ones for balance? Based on my experience with this distillery, most of their barrels come in just slightly above 120, so a blend like this might explain its exceptional quality.

I've encountered this bottling at two different proofs and have only tried the higher one. That said, it's flawless. I'm unsure how this release went largely unnoticed. With very few reviews available at this moment, and at a similar price point, another popular brand doesn't compare. I'm fortunate to have found a few more of these gathering a bit of dust some months after my initial purchase.

A rich and robust bourbon. It offers notes of coconut, wood, and a whisper of cherry. You'll also find notes of barrel char and warming spices. It has a lingering finish. The full proof is apparent due to its substantial body and distinct barrel char character. It brings to mind that rickhouse aroma and deep barrel taste found in ECBP B520. This is a superior offering compared to KC12 and 15, and significantly better than Bookers. For enthusiasts of Knob Creek, this is a recommended pick.

Very thick mouthfeel and full-bodied flavors. Dark cherry combined with coconut, oak, nuttiness, and baking spices. The finish is exceptional and quite long. It begins with a bit of spice, but each taste gets better. It's comparable to Knob Creek 12 but much more concentrated. Like Booker's but more harmonious.

First pour, neat. Dark cherry and a subtle hint of vanilla, not at all proofy. Silky texture. Flavors of cinnamon, some ginger, and orange pith. A warm, medium-length finish with spice and nuttiness. Very balanced, but rounds out nicely with a drop of water. A very enjoyable sipping whiskey.

This is truly the finest Knob Creek 12 year offering. The Cask Strength bottling delivers a superior mouthfeel and heightened flavor. I would have emptied this bottle ages ago, but I don't have a backup and I'm worried about not having any CS KC12 at home.