Knob Creek 9 Year Single Barrel Reserve

KNOB CREEK COMPARISON Knob Creek No Age Statement Small Batch Bourbon Knob Creek 9-Year Single Barrel Reserve Knob Creek 12-Year Small Batch Continuing to sample whiskies from my collection that I haven't yet reviewed. Although I've reviewed the 12-Year previously, I decided to group the NAS Small Batch and the 9-Year Single Barrel, which I hadn't reviewed, for a comparative tasting alongside it. Knob Creek might face a similar perception issue as the old Chevy Nova, which was reportedly avoided by Hispanic consumers because "no va" translates to "no go" in Spanish. During a visit to a Manhattan bar several years ago with a colleague from England, I ordered a Knob Creek, seeming like a safe choice. Upon hearing this, he remarked, "I would never order Knob Creek, mate." While the bourbon's name is derived from Knob Creek Farm in Kentucky, the term "knob" has a different meaning in the U.K. I have no insight into the sales performance of this Jim Beam brand in the United Kingdom. Knob Creek NAS Small Batch Bourbon The color is a clear, bourbon-like caramel hue, Pantone 138. The nose exhibits sweet caramel, a hint of orange, and a generous amount of oak and vanilla. The palate Knob Creek NAS Small Batch is available for about $40. The 100-proof strength is not reduced to the minimum 80 proof, which is a positive. However, the $40 price point is high compared to the market. In a recent review of "BUDGET BOTTLED IN BOND BOURBON SHOWDOWN" (September 24, 2023), three 100-proof, NAS bourbons (Evan Williams BiB, Old Tub, and Wild Turkey 101) were available for nearly half that price. The Knob Creek NAS doesn't offer enough distinctiveness from those to justify a price nearly double. It has no significant flaws, but it's not ideal for sipping, and while higher proof is beneficial for cocktails, less expensive 100-proof bourbons exist that perform equally well. Would I purchase it again? No. Rated 3.0. 100 proof. NAS. Knob Creek 9-Year Single Barrel Reserve Visually, the color is nearly identical to the Knob Creek NAS, Pantone 138. The nose is intricate and, as expected, superior to the NAS, featuring chocolate-covered cherries, dried orange, Honey-Nut Cheerios, toasted oak, vanilla, and noticeably well-integrated alcohol, followed by a touch of cooling mint. The texture is slightly creamy and coats the palate. The taste reveals dark caramelized sugar and bittersweet chocolate, transitioning to a subtle woody tannic bitterness from the charred wood and vanilla on the finish. The 9-Year Single Barrel represents a substantial improvement over the NAS small batch, as anticipated. There's a lot happening here, and it's good, though not quite excellent. This would certainly be a sipper for me, and it offers good value in the current market with a retail price around $57. Would I buy it again? Yes. Rated 4.0. 120 proof. 9-Year age statement. Knob Creek 12-Year Small Batch Even with the older age statement, the 12-Year displays the same Pantone 138 hue as the NAS Small Batch and 9-Year. The nose is reserved; I'm not detecting as many notes as I did during my review over a year ago. There's a hint of toffee, nutmeg, and some refreshing spearmint. The palate is a significant enhancement, offering sweet banana bread, abundant toasted oak and vanilla, and finally, the 100 proof makes its presence known. Toasted oak and vanilla persist on the medium-length finish, which then introduces an espresso-like bitterness, likely due to woody tannins from the extended barrel aging. I previously reviewed the Knob Creek 12-Year individually on June 22, 2022. At that time, I expressed some disappointment, as a 12-year age statement is uncommon in today's market at a "reasonable price," and I rated it 3.25. This tasting experience is slightly better than my prior assessment. The aromas today were less pronounced for me than a year ago; this might be because this tasting followed the 9-year, which is deeper, richer, and more complex. I favor the 9-year over the 12-year, which can be purchased for around $65. Would I buy it again? Yes. However, there's a consideration: due to the age statement, the flavor profile can vary annually, and the 12-year age statement is enough reason to take a chance. Rated 3.5. 100 proof. 12-year age statement. Note: All spirits were tasted neat in a Glencairn glass.

I'm quite eager to re-evaluate this distinct, cask strength variant of Knob Creek's single barrel bourbon, having first encountered it more than six years ago. My previous bottle was engraved and bore the fingerprints of my spouse and myself on the wax seal. It was from before the redesign of the labels. We had decided to reserve this special bottle exclusively for our anniversary and abstain from other Knob Creek products until it was finished; last month, we finally felt at liberty to try the brand again. The distiller designates this as a different product than my prior experience, though I recall the proof and age being comparable. Honestly, I cannot remember the specifics of my earlier bottle. Regardless, I intend to approach this as a completely new offering and am thrilled to be returning to it. At 120 proof, it's an excellent level, and a 9-year-old bourbon is virtually unheard of in today's market, especially at a very appealing price point—unless one is engaged in the exhausting and costly pursuit of Buffalo Trace products aged over a decade. It would be beneficial if the specific barrel details were indicated on the bottle, as this is easily provided information that would significantly enhance the collector value of your single barrel selections, but I'll move on. The color is a healthy chestnut brown, not substantially darker than whiskeys aged a few years less, but noticeable in a direct comparison. The aroma is rich, featuring light caramel, toffee, crackers, and a salty brine. Subtle notes include a hint of lemon zest, cocoa, peanuts, and a touch of lavender. The ethanol presence is very subtle and not at all aggressive, which is unexpected given the proof. While I don't typically favor highly specific tasting or smelling notes, these are remarkably distinct for me compared to similar American whiskeys (without additives or barrel finishes), which I believe speaks to the expertise and legacy of the Jim Beam product line. The toffee and caramel flavors are perceived almost immediately upon tasting. A spice begins to develop, primarily from the high proof but also with discernible rye notes, manifesting as cinnamon, fresh grass, and red berries, while moderately permeating the gums. The finish becomes somewhat dry and nutty, with a subtle citrus note that neither intensifies nor fades completely. Subsequent sips do introduce that saltiness detected in the aroma, but it is faint and does not interfere with the other flavors. I could claim this is underwhelming, but that would stem solely from my own elevated expectations. It is a fine example of cask strength/high proof bourbon, although I do not perceive flavors or a body that clearly indicates 9 years of age, which should be quite evident compared to the typical 4-year-old or younger offerings in the current American whiskey landscape. Naturally, with major distilleries offering flagship products of similar ages (e.g., Bulleit, Wild Turkey), it's not surprising that Jim Beam produces numerous product lines with age statements. However, it is somewhat disappointing to find a single barrel variant among these that doesn't quite reach its full potential. I would be interested in sampling the lower proof, batched bourbon from the Knob Creek line for comparison, as I am unlikely to repurchase an unlabeled single barrel expression if its flavor alone cannot justify the increased cost over the batched bourbon.

This pick from Liquor City Uncorked, "Gallenstein Selection #38" (Warehouse Z; Floor 04; Rick 023, Barrel Filled 11/09/2011, Bottled on 06/13/2021, Age - 9 years, 7 months, 4 days, Open 7 months) has a nose of kettle corn, caramel, honey roasted peanuts, toasted marshmallow, tobacco, medium oak, and medium ethanol. The palate features burnt caramel, oak extract, peanut shells, toffee, brown sugar, and old leather. The finish is medium-long with abundant tannic dry oak, burnt popcorn, salted caramel, and strong ethanol. These used to offer tremendous value, but I believe those days are gone. Looking back six years to a time when these selections were among the best market buys. I started collecting store picks around 2018-19, and a Knob Creek Single Barrel pick exceeding 15 years old at my local ABC store cost $45 and was incredible. It remains one of the finest bourbons I've ever had. I even bought a second bottle with my grad school funds. Those bottles lingered on the shelves for months; I could have purchased cases. In the year following that pick, I dismissed Knob Creek Single Barrel picks that were 12-13 years old, thinking I'd wait for another 14-15 year old. Then prices began to rise, initially to $50, then to $60. Not a major issue for a 9+ year old, nearly barrel-proof bourbon, still representing excellent value. However, older store picks simultaneously became scarce. Finding anything over 10 years old is now difficult. Jim Beam then explained the situation behind this shift. Knob Creek 12, Knob Creek 15, and Knob Creek 18 were introduced. To acquire older expressions now requires a higher price, and they are only 100 proof. Were these old store picks unprofitable? Unlikely. Did they observe the booming bourbon market and restructure the Knob Creek line for greater profit? Highly probable. Knob Creek 12 is good, but a cask strength version would be welcome. I have little interest in paying the price for the 15 or 18 year expressions, knowing they would likely be disappointing. Returning to this specific pick, it's acceptable. It surpasses many bourbons in its price range, but nothing about it is outstanding. It lacks sweetness and is excessively dry and oaky for its age. I will likely refrain from purchasing these picks again unless I have the opportunity to sample them beforehand.

This bottle was filled by the distillery and acquired while with a friend in Kentucky in May, 2023. The tasting notes are based on a reduction to approximately 94 proof. Nose: Typical bourbon aroma - caramel, vanilla, brown sugar, cinnamon, and a hint of maple, but amplified significantly. This aroma strongly encourages tasting. Palate: Very sweet and creamy at first. It brings to mind French toast, though slightly charred. Soon after, the spice begins to stimulate the tip of the tongue and lingers, leading to a delightful finish. Finish: Extended and sweet, with a wonderful peppery spice that takes over and remains for a while. A subtle note of bitter orange peel is also detected here. Overall, this is exceptional and among my new preferred bourbons. I haven't compared it to other single barrel select bottlings, which would be insightful. Nevertheless, if I encounter another bottle in the future, I will certainly purchase it.

The aroma is sweet and spicy. Sweet notes of maple syrup, vanilla, caramel, and ripe red apple combine with spicy oak, rye, and black pepper. Further whiffs reveal citrus and melon. Upon sipping, spices fill the throat pleasantly, not overwhelmingly. Sugars coat the teeth and palate, causing salivation. The proof is noticeable with some ethanol notes contributing to the profile and a long-lasting finish. This is a very good bourbon that performs exceptionally well for its price. A few drops of water release more melon and citrus notes, along with the nuttiness characteristic of Jim Beam products. I enjoy the standard 100 proof 9 year Knob Creek, but I like this one even more. Overall Impression: Nose - 4.25/5; Taste 4.25/5; Finish 4.0/5 Overall 4.25/5 Repurchase: Yes Type: Friday night Pour/Special Occasion

Appearance: Dark amber. Smell: Initially, the aroma was overwhelming with molasses, but it surprisingly mellowed over time. This scent reminds me of certain batches from Booker's. Leather notes are also perceptible. Taste: Much like Booker's, the flavor profile is oaky, spicy, and subtly sweet. It drinks smoother than its 120 proof suggests. As I continue tasting, notes of graham cracker emerge. However, spice is the dominant characteristic, accompanied by woodiness, smokiness, and a pleasant sweetness that provides balance. End: The finish is extended, carrying over much of the palate's flavors. I rarely rate above 4.25, but this bourbon, for me personally, embodies the essence of what bourbon should be. It satisfies all expectations, earning a well-deserved 4.5 rating. An excellent choice. I will certainly repurchase.