Knob Creek 15 Year Bourbon (2021 Release)

Nose: Strong vanilla with cinnamon and oak spice. Cinnamon-covered roasted peaches. A little dried red fruit. Some earthy and leathery funk. Smells like a dusty library. More red fruit emerges as it airs out. Palate: Red fruit, peaches, and pear with plenty of toasted cinnamon and oak. Notes of baking spice, vanilla, and toffee. Tastes like coffee berry – or at least what I imagine that flavor to be, a blend of coffee and cherry, but with the cherry toned down and more like generic berry notes. Adding air releases even more red fruit, now with a cooked/roasted quality. The finish delivers significant oak bitterness, a medicinal aftertaste, more coffee, a dash of dark chocolate, baking spice, some cinnamon, and that leathery, dusty book aroma from the nose. Ultimately, the finish is primarily bitter. I noticed this on a shelf in late October and initially passed, thinking it was too expensive, though I suspected I wouldn't encounter it again soon. Then, I considered it might be a good pour for Thanksgiving – a corn-based whiskey seemed fitting for the holiday (despite knowing most of my guests primarily drink fruit-forward single malt scotch), and sharing it felt like a justification for the price. Knowing the brand, I decided to open this a week before Thanksgiving to allow it some time to breathe before the gathering. That first taste served as a warning – this is not a whiskey for beginners: it's bitter, dusty, not bright, and not easy to drink. I should have realized sooner, but I rationalized that it was why I opened it early and that a week with oxygen would help. Unsurprisingly, the week didn't make a difference, and it wasn't a hit on Thanksgiving. I remember half-finished glasses after the family departed – I combined them and finished them myself, so not a complete waste, I suppose, though I might have inadvertently put some family members off bourbon. I have more work to do to win them back. (And don't even ask about the 16-year-old I thought would pair perfectly with dessert...) Now, a few months later, I still find this whiskey challenging. It's mature, bold, and assertive. It's quite bitter, which I don't dislike, but it makes it suitable for a specific niche. Adding a cube or some water might reveal more, but I'm hesitant to do that with a 15-year-old – it feels like it shouldn't be necessary, especially at only 100 proof. Perhaps that's the wrong perspective. I'm genuinely unsure. I have a pour or two left, so I might still experiment. As an aside, I expected this to sell out quickly. I was mistaken. It's still available and now priced $40 lower, so I assume I'm not the only one who isn't thrilled with it at its original price. Considering its difficult character, this would be an interesting bottle for $60-70, but even at $110, it seems too high. I feel I overpaid significantly, but I guess that happens sometimes as you delve deeper into this hobby. _______

This is an outstanding bourbon. You do detect some peanut, but it’s far more refined than typical Beam products. I really get some nice vanilla notes, and the deep color of this translates into some soft oak and cherry characteristics. I've seen and read people say KC 12 year surpasses the 15 year and I wonder if they've truly done a blind tasting. Don't get me wrong... a 12-year-old at $60 is a damn good bourbon. $5 a year... sign me up. It's really good. More vanilla, but a tad thinner than the 15. In a true blind tasting, the 15 offers a richer bourbon and one that I think is worth the extra $30. It’s more viscous, more complex, less peanut flavor. You truly cannot go wrong with either; however, the 15-year-old is genuinely among the better higher-end bourbon values on the shelf that people don't pursue. Less than $6 a year... it's well worth the $90 price. But you should own both the 12 and 15. Among the best values available.

Nose: Oak and leather are prominent. Nutty notes characteristic of Beam. Pretzel, overly salted caramel. Faint licorice. Palate: The aging process mellows any harshness or spice. Faint Beam nuttiness. Oak, overwhelming oak. Finish: Oak and very tannic, leaving a lingering dryness in the mouth. Powerful, but the 100 proof prevents it from being too much. Notes of dark chocolate and pretzel emerge. It has a singular oak profile but never becomes overpowering. It excels at its intended characteristic. The 12-year offers better balance and more traditional bourbon flavors, but this one succeeds in being distinct. It's acceptable at 100 proof; an additional 10-15 proof points would have significantly enhanced it. Rated 7 on the t8ke scale

A bit thin, but compensates with rich flavors: vanilla, coconut, caramelized banana, and oak spices like clove, allspice, and cinnamon. It has a medium-long finish. A satisfying bourbon with an impressive age statement, though if you're seeking comparable or more impressive bottles in age or flavor at a similar or lower price point, consider Russell's Reserve 10yr or SiB, Four Roses SiB/Small Batch Select/or Barrel Strength, or EC Barrel Strength. I also find it slightly over-oaked/aged, with a touch too much tannin.

Typically, I go months without reviewing, but then rate at least two when I do. The nose is dusty and has an aged character, with abundant oak and vanilla, plus a hint of sweet raisin. There's a substantial amount of wood on the nose – prompting jokes – but this is quite different from the 12-year I'm used to. The flavor is oak-forward, with a general dryness and notes of clove, dark chocolate, and vanilla on the periphery. An easy sipper for its age; I didn't love it initially, but it has grown on me.

First aroma is ethanol, but peeling that back reveals caramel, butterscotch, and vanilla. On the palate, it's thick. It drinks like an older bourbon, and it's quite rich. Vanilla seems to coat the tongue, and as it does, the flavors begin to open up, and you start tasting that oak from the extended time in the barrel and a bit of citrus and spiciness. It finishes strong with building spice that lasts for several minutes. Damn fine juice from Jim Beam!