Tag: Knob Creek

Knob Creek Single Barrel Review: Holiday Market Selection

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Maker: Jim Beam, Claremont, Kentucky, USA (Suntory)

Bottle of Knob Creek Single Barrel, Holiday Market selection.

Style: Rye recipe Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey.

Age: 9ish years old (barreled 4/15, selected 9/24)

Proof: 120 (60% ABV)

Michigan state minimum: $65

Tasted with a splash of water.

Appearance: Medium gold.

Nose: Cut lumber, Beam yeast.

Palate: Sawdust, street corn, green chili.

Finish: Char, brown sugar.

Parting words: Knob Creek Single Barrel is one of my most reviewed bourbons. I reviewed the Georgia Bourbon Society pick I helped select here, and here’s a goofy video review from me and friend of the blog Amy. I review it a lot because I’m a big fan of Knob Creek in general, and barrel selections are a fun way to explore the multitudes that KC contains.

This one was good, but like most Holiday Market selections, it is a good example of itself, but it doesn’t really offer anything new. There’s little difference between this and the median bottle of a non-select KCSB. The Beam funk is maybe a little more prominent, but that might very well be the state of my palate. It’s far from bad, just a little disappointing. Still, it’s better than a dozen other bourbons at that price point. Knob Creek Single Barrel, Holiday Market Selection (9/24) is recommended.

Knob Creek 12 y/o

JoshLeave a comment

Maker: Jim Beam, Clermont, Kentucky, USA (Suntory)

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Style: Rye recipe bourbon.

Age: 12 y/o

Proof: 100 (50% ABV)

Michigan state minimum: $70

Appearance: Dark Copper.

Nose: Charred oak, leather, old wet lumber.

Palate: Brown sugar, acorns, burn. Water brings out a little more complexity, adding eucalyptus and clove.

Finish: Hot and oaky.

Parting words: The standard 9 y/o Knob Creek has been one of my favorite bourbons for many years. I love it because it’s easy to find, high proof, affordable ($37 in Michigan), and mature but not over oaked. To my palate, 6-9 years is peak maturity for most bourbons. Exceptional ones, or ones aged on the ground floor of the rickhouse can go longer, but for most, 6-9 is the sweet spot. Before that, the whiskey can be rough and uncouth. After that, it can become one dimensional and fall into the “beaver bourbon” category, a term I coined to describe bourbons that only a creature accustomed to chewing on trees could enjoy.

Unfortunately, Knob Creek 12 is a product for the beaver market. Oak isn’t the only thing going on here, but it dominates the palate, nose, and finish. I had hoped that a distillery with stocks the size of Beam’s would be able to select a few balanced barrels for this expression, but apparently not. I can’t imagine what the newer 15 and 18 y/o expressions taste like. Even the beavers might object at that point.

If you’re the type who like a woodier bourbon, you might enjoy this, but I did not. The price isn’t too bad, considering what some bourbons at half the age go for the days, but Knob Creek 12 y/o old is still not recommended.