Knob Creek Single Barrel Select 15 Year W-E F-06 R-019 10/21/2005

This is the final sample from my blind tasting series, kindly shared by a friend. The nose is rich, beginning with pecan pie, apricot preserves, and the scent of old books, then dark chocolate-covered toasted marshmallow and sweet pipe tobacco, followed by caramelized apples, morello cherry preserves, and orange blossom, transitioning to light spices like spearmint, candied ginger, cloves, and polished mahogany, with a strong ethanol presence. The taste has a medium to full mouthfeel, starting with pecan pie, apricot preserves, and the scent of old books, before a moderate spice that slowly fades to cocoa nibs, toasted marshmallow, and sweet pipe tobacco, followed by caramelized apples, morello cherry preserves, and charred orange peel, transitioning to light spices like spearmint, candied ginger, cloves, and polished mahogany, with a strong ethanol presence. The finish is medium in length, featuring anise, sweet pipe tobacco, caramelized apples, maraschino cherries, spearmint, and polished mahogany. This is an exceptional bourbon and a fantastic conclusion to this small series, possessing an aged wood character that persists throughout the experience, with a pleasant balance of rich sweetness, creamy citrus, and mild rye. Now I just need to discover its identity and whether a bottle is still obtainable, as this has been my favorite of the 5 samples. Time to find out what this tasty dram is and it turns out to be………. Knob Creek 15 year Corks and Barrel Pick 120 proof!!!! Wait, does Knob Creek offer cask strength single barrel 15 year store picks?! I had only encountered the 15 year releases at 50% ABV, and this one is significantly better than the 15 year (2020) version I previously tried. I will have to look out for it next time I am in Kentucky and hopefully can bring a bottle home. Many thanks to my friend for taking the time to arrange this and share all these excellent whiskeys with me.

The aroma is sweet and spicy, with a distinct vanilla presence, reminiscent of sugar cookies baking. The initial taste is like an autumn forest with falling leaves, followed by charred oak and a strong alcohol flavor upon swallowing. The finish leaves a lingering sensation of cinnamon Red Hots, numbing the mouth and lips. A second sniff reveals less spice and more sugar and vanilla notes. There are some fruity undertones, possibly orange peel. The second sip is sweet, rich, and full-bodied, with an oily, smoky finish that lingers pleasurably on the tongue. This ranks among the top three in my collection.