Knob Creek 25th Anniversary Single Barrel Reserve

Nose: Initially, a simple dark oak aroma, with notes of vanilla cream or pudding, leather, and Werther's candy. After adding water, a faint scent of roasted peanut shells emerges. Taste: Without water, the initial sensation is a hot cinnamon spice on the tongue, accompanied by very oaky vanilla, simple brown sugar notes, leather, sweet tobacco, and a subtle hint of cherry cola syrup. A light nutty sweetness from roasted peanuts appears at the end. With water, the cinnamon heat significantly diminishes, and the oaky notes become more prominent, mingling with cherry, cola syrup, and a creamier peanut butter sweetness. Finish: Before water, the finish is dominated by an oaky, roasted, sweet, nutty peanut butter flavor, with a lingering cinnamon heat and a very faint sweetness of Luxardo cherries. After water, the dominant lingering taste is sweet oaky cherry with a hint of nutty peanut butter, underscored by a faint touch of cinnamon heat. Score: 86/100 Final Thoughts: This spirit truly benefits from some time to breathe in the glass, and I suspect bottle aging would also be advantageous. While the initial aroma seemed rather one-dimensional, allowing it to sit certainly improved it. It's been a while since I've sampled any Knob Creek expressions, so my frame of reference isn't perfect, but this didn't immediately strike me as a typical Beam product until it had a chance to air out. To sum it up, this is a classic barrel-proof Beam offering that reveals its complexity after some airing or a splash of water. It's enjoyable, but this particular pour is very similar to Booker's and teeters on the edge of being overly oaked.

Served neat. Opened for at least a year. My initial tasting was highly favorable, but subsequent experiences with numerous 13-15 year store picks have made me question its standing over time. The nose is exquisite, a classic nuttiness surrounded by ripe, abundant cherries. Deep oak and leather notes are present, along with a subtle burnt caramel and French vanilla. I could savor this for a considerable duration due to its nose, which beautifully balances light, bright notes with deep, dark ones and everything in between. It's remarkably rich and crisp. While I lack a side-by-side comparison, this seems a tier above the store pick barrels. I initially considered it overpriced in retrospect... perhaps not? It's incredibly syrupy and thick, with brown sugar and oak on the palate, quite dark. It then surprises with cherry and vanilla, leaving a lingering taste of burnt caramel, oak, and a touch of nuttiness. It drinks like 100 proof. The finish is exceptionally long. Indeed, this represents a quintessential Knob Creek experience. My recently finished Knob Creek 2001 Batch 1, while initially captivating, lost some appeal over time. This one is special. While $120 is substantial for a Knob Creek single barrel, a bottle of this is arguably worth two store picks, exceeding them based on memory.

I was surprised to find this bottle, nearly three years after its release, in Louisiana. This specific barrel was 13 years old, filled on 2/26/2004, and bottled at 121.9 proof. Nose - Cherries, apples, vanilla, oak, tobacco. Baking spices and leather. A very subtle nutty note. Some dried varnish, but the nose isn't harsh. Palate - Brown sugar, sweet oak, dark chocolate. The characteristic Beam peanut note is present but very subdued. The fruit noted on the nose doesn't really come through on the palate. Sweetness persists on the long finish, along with oak, cinnamon, and baking spices. Adding a few drops of water diminished the fruit notes on the nose, which was disappointing. It also intensified the sweetness and baking spices on the palate. However, I preferred the nose without water. What strikes me is how different this is from other King's County releases I've sampled, especially the pleasant surprise of the fruit on the nose.

Neat in a glen cairn, 1.5 oz poured. Bottled 2/21/2004 at 121 proof. Smell (4.5): Begins with dill, then vanilla and cherry. The aroma is clear and, for its proof, doesn't hit too hard with alcohol. Taste (4.25): Vanilla dominates with spice, but not cinnamon; more like allspice. Hints of pepper and oak are present. Aftertaste (4.0): The finish is dry and warm. A tiny bit of water greatly enhanced the finish, smoothing out the intensity. It's a pleasant, lengthy finish with more oak than detected on the palate. General: I really enjoy this, though not quite as much as my 120 proof store selection. I secured this at what I consider a bargain for $95 against the $129 MSRP. For comparison, I'd rather have two of the store picks or a solid 2015 Booker's. My main critique is I wished for a touch more sweetness. It's a quality drink.

Knob Creek 25th Anniversary Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Single Barrel 61% ABV Barreled date: 5/13/2004 13 years old 300 barrels produced Nose: butterscotch, dark fruits, baked goods Taste: Immediately, a strong grape flavor, unlike any bourbon I've previously identified. I'm enjoying the sensation. Other sweet fruits, oak, and cinnamon accompany the initial grape. Finish: A significant Kentucky hug, but the palate flavors fade quickly. Much shorter than anticipated for a 13-year-old bourbon. Overall: A distinctive Knob Creek offering, but I've sampled better KC SiB store picks that were older and had longer finishes. Is it worth the $130? No, opt for a trusted store pick instead.

Consumed neat. The bottle I have is 13 years old and has a beautiful dark amber color. The nose reveals many layers, dominated by vanilla and spice – specifically allspice rather than cinnamon – and numerous floral notes. It's genuinely exceptional. The mouthfeel is light. It initially presents charred sugars, but upon swallowing, it transforms into a complex blend of dark and bright flavors. It begins with chocolate, followed by spice, and then a burst of vanilla. These flavors linger extensively in the mouth. This is truly remarkable stuff.