Knob Creek Single Barrel Select Bourbon (Eli Manning's 2025 Bold Pick)

Location: Warehouse P, Floor 5, Rickhouse 7. Barreled: 9/1/15. Selected: 12/13/24. Appearance: Medium Amber. Smell: Cinnamon red hots; burnt sugar; maple. Taste: (Consumed with a large ice ball) Immediately sweet and nutty, as expected from Beam. A mild chest warmth is noticeable on the second sip, along with a spicy character. It has a slightly bitter taste on the tongue, but in a pleasant way. This same bitterness is present in other high-proof bottles. However, it drinks much smoother than its 120 proof suggests. As the ice melts and dilutes it, a subtle smokiness and oak/barrel char emerge. Second tasting... I wanted to see if anything new appeared. The sweetness and nuttiness are still there. I'm also detecting some cherry and a buttery quality. These might have been present initially but were not noticed. Finish: Medium in length, with baking spices and bitterness lingering on the sides of the mouth. Overall: This is a satisfying pour. It was only available in three states: California, Louisiana, and New York, where I live. I'm glad I got a bottle. I've tried another Knob Creek Single Barrel before, but it was a while ago, so I can't make a direct comparison. I believe this one is at least as good. If you can find it where you are, I strongly suggest getting a bottle. 4 stars.