Tastes

It's 2018 and my Knob Creek 120 Single Barrel review is woefully overdue and happily I have acquired one of the local "store barrels" of said dram to pass judgement on, complete with the Fred Noe signature tag on bottle, this 9 year single barrel stands ready to deliver the goods. Single barrel and barrel proof plus at 120, if you like Knob Creek standard 100 proof(green label) this is all that and so much more, yet unlike many limited releases, it is relatively easy to find. The standard Knob Creek nose, the LOADS of caramel, oak, vanilla and dank sugar sweetness all concentrated for your enjoyment are present and at full strength. This bottle is a great reminder of why single barrel(proof) is worth looking into for the bourbon aficionado. On the palate it is warm sweet and full of all the familiar flavor us bourbon advocates look for, smooth sweet heat and rich traditional bourbon notes are all present and accounted for, making this one of the best "easy to find on shelf" bottles you can go to with confidence it will be available. It may be a tempting assumption that the 120proof 9 year will be nothing more than a 20% increase in strength of the 100 proof. However this will not be the case, as the single barrel delivers a considerable "load" of flavor variation simply not found in the lesser proof bottle. A comparison not unlike that of Stagg Jr to the tall bottle of George T Stagg, where you get so much more (and of course pay for it) in the latter case. Adding a small snit of water will boost the oak and finish notes and enhance the already notable balance. Keeping in mind the small variance that is inherit in single barrel product, we should be reminded that proponents such as distiller.com allow us to all weigh in with our experience, and be glad we can! Thank god for bourbon and thank god for the Jim Beam Distillery. An easy 4.4 stars in product value.

Apparently the 6 year 100 proof is currently unavailable, or limited for exporting from KY, they have released a 3 year 80 proof in its stead. That's a wee step down and you should consider the Mckenna (also from Heaven Hill) 4 year brown bottles are still around before picking this one. That said this is a Heaven Hill quality product and brings the required characteristics to the table. The nose is so mild I switched to my jigger sized snifter to get a better feel for it. Its almost exactly what any bourbon old timer would expect, a small straight alcohol fume with sweet oak and mild caramel/vanilla. Just what you expect from the HH family of distillers in a bourbon this young, nothing flashy, just basic, acceptable bourbon. Relatively mild this one is easy to roll on the tongue and sample the sweet caramel body before it finishes with a nice warm and slightly salty cinnamon tapering off. Again absolutely nothing spectacular but still a modest yet respectable mid section not quite rich but almost all there. A 3 year drinker you can enjoy straight or use as a quality mix base and just as important SOMETHING worthy of putting the Heaven Hill name on the label. 2.5 stars for a drinkable bourbon at a entry level price point.

Rather than a "good" whiskey this is a "good" example of a standard Canadian whiskey that shouldn't be disparaged or lauded for being something it is not. CC is both a standard and standby and for many of us an "old" standby at that, in that plenty of people drink it so its always around, and for some reason thats important. It's the "Being There" factor of knowing what you have and get with CC It just pulls it's weight as a lower priced "drinker" by being mixable with soda or water and a twist and being a completely unmemorable drink, and that's not always a bad thing either. For those who have been disgusted by some really bad bourbons and whiskeys, the JR something er others and Lazy hillbilly Guy and what nots of really terrible whiskies, well, this is certianly NOT one of those. It doesn't suck, it just isn't ever going to win an award unless its a contest for being ordinary. I've often wondered if perhaps Canadian corn is simply inferior to that of the states in sweetness and flavor values for fermentation, it could explain a lot about the "Canadians" in general, but either way the "corn" factor in this one is just not enough to even be worth mentioning. In fact it stands out as a "Canadian" whiskey in that it offers nothing special in really any category of flavor components, but also has nothing offensive to offer either. In every way it seems an industry standard for what passes as lower-mid shelf store product found anywhere that is just "good enough" for every day use but only in an "ordinary" sense of the term. There are plenty worse examples of the genre when it comes to Canadians and certianly some better ones also, standard CC just falls smack in the "white label" middle of plainess. In a pinch if theres nothing better, then this will do as long as you keep expectations low. Just remember to take Pamela Anderson with you to the ice fishing shack and you won't care how really ordinary this whiskey is, 'old standby" will be ready to not interfere with Pam er um fishing..

Going into this one I initially had reservations, my first impression of Blade & Bow was that it was "just a bottle", another lustyclaus and something not to be taken seriously. After all the solera aging process has no real standard and thus can mean practically anything. Then a friend pointed out the "Stitzel-Weller" on the label piquing my interest and thus warranting a try. Given this is a bourbon with somewhat unorthodox blending methods its difficult to predict what it might compare with in regards to a standard age barrel. On examination of uncorking we discover our "key" and note it is a #1, for the collectors. Nose: wonderfully rich fullness of sweet and buttery confectionary along with faint vanilla oak notes. On the pallate starts with mild oaks and fruit, muffled vanilla -caramel notes, the creamy middle slides back on the tongue with buttery smooth warmth. The preview of standard vanilla caramel oak is present but subdued and almost overpowered by the butteryness and richness in the body of the sip. Finishing smooth as you would expect and nicely warm without a flash or burn and traces of cinnamon along with the powerful buttery creamy flavor. For a mid 90s proofer, exceptionally mild on the finish with low heat and free of any harshness or burn. An entirely unexpected but completely welcome treat in the spicy smooth butter nut bourbon experience. Not really complex however the combination just works. Maybe not for everyone but certianly a welcome dram for many. Hoping this one holds up in consistency and value. solid 3.5 stars

Nose: moderately sweet traditional Standard bourbon notes are subdued, a bit thin with some bite however there is little elsewhere to make up for the lack of character and missing or weak mid range flavors. Finishes a bit hot but nothing beyond average warm spices linger. A bit harsher than it could be for a standard proof as well. Not a bad drinker just not exceptional, esp compared to the better offerings out of Heaven Hill, Buffalo Trace or Beam often at comparable or better prices. With so much 1792 on the shelves and being pushed hard, its difficult to defend the price points well over 30$ that don't deliver better than average value in taste and character. Acceptable if thin flavor but still wanting in something to make it stand out. Too many values in great tasting bourbons right now to even consider this one. 2.75 stars

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. . . Like many high ABV offerings, Stagg Jr is no exception in that it has a narrower band in the mid range flavor variants, this may have something to do with the extra volume percentage being consumed by the alchol.. or not. Having recently gone on a mission for "barrel proofs" I was pleased to find this 129.5 proof bottle at a local store for 60$. Unlike the Elijah Craig and 4 Roses BPs, (reviews to come) this one simply jumps in your face and makes you work to find the muffled tones of bourbon flavors. The nose offers sweet mash and subtle rye with vanila and citrus. Uncut this will start hard and burn however the midrange is narrow and the body is thin not "fat" like the sweeter, richer bourbons often easily found sitting on the shelf and often at a lesser price. Carmellic and wood sweetness are present but nearly hidden along with some other relaxed notes you will discover over time as you try it with ice and water. Water will take away most of the bitter lingering finish and bring out some tartness along with clove in the follow through. Even with the slight smoke tails I could see a Scotch drinker going ape on this one as it offers up some of the milder hints of wood oils, root beer notes and dark chocalate cherry bitters and hardness often smothered in much fuller sweeter bourbons. For all its in your face abv harshness, the finish is remarkably still and burn free, perhaps with a hint of cinnamon and little to no flame upon adding ice or water. While there is very little to NOT like about this pouring it does lack for some of the more familiar notes with some being far TOO subtle to detect. While I wouldnt pass up a chance to add this bottle for comparative drinking occasions I feel certain a bottle of Blantons at the same price would be far and away the choice of the majority of novice to experienced bourbon fans alike. I could easily pass on this for a few good rounds of Eagle Rare and thus the conundrum for Buffaloe Trace with this offering.

This is being pushed as a mid to upper range "designer" bourbon, unfortunately the sourced juice is what stands out and little else.. typically over 40USD, not worth it at half the price. Outside of the abv, no redeeming qualities.

Woodford is a strong candidate in the "benchmark" bourbon field of good traditional bourbon mashbill contenders, with its large corn and much smaller near equal parts of rye and barley ratio, it shares the stage with many of todays most popular bourbons. A nose of standard pleasant sour mash and ethanol traces. Warm full pleasant sweet corn body with an average array of citric fruit nut and caramel vanilla notes. Good warmth with little or no harshness and mild shades of smokiness at a standard proof and a smooth finish make this a bourbon the Woodford distillers can be proud of. A solid 3.75 stars on taste and character, the "Reserve" is easily approachable for the novice bourbon drinker and also an enjoyable offering for the veterans alike. The bad news is that like so many of todays "solid contenders" we can often find them marginally to vastly overpriced on the shelf, a Woodford at 30 is a very reasonable buy while above 40$ we can easily find replacements to save stress on the wallet. Look for this one at the right price and have yourself a bottle to enjoy in good company.

Note to self. Look for more "cloudy" non-chill filtered bourbons! With the recent controversy regarding the spokesmodel for the Jim Beam label, it is perhaps fitting that Fred Noe has concocted this exceptional offering from one of the original Distilleries that help comprise the Bourbon Trail. The easily recognizable rectangular bottle choice fits the standard black/doubleoak/bond/devilscut JB footprint but dont be fooled by the books cover or the modest price tag. Make noe mistake, this is a RARE offering! Yes I do mean exceptional, as in a masterpiece of sweet wood, oaks and caramels, with understated tones of spice and smoke hints of citrus and burley blend. The nose is a statement of the traditional delightful Beam signature sour mash profile. What I found exceptional beyond the inviting traditional flavors was the silky smooth finish that will have you taking a second look to make sure you are enjoying a true 100 proof libation. The number of bottle in bond strength choices that offer this much in a full bodied flavor profile and can finish with a near perfection of smoothness and consistency in taste are indeed rare. To do so at a price inline with the other Beam standards is both a bold statement to the industry and a fine gift to us bourbon aficionados on this holiday precipice. Easily a 4.5 star merit in quality and value, well done Fred and the Jim Beam distillers.

The Blantons mystic is well founded, from the thought in bottle design to the care in pouring, its history draws directly to the days Elmer T Lee was plying his trade and perfecting his craft. That care is even evident in the way pourings are dated, for example the bottle in front of me is 9-27-17, Rick #56 Warehouse H Barrel No 1705. Cork L (for the collectors) Nose: Understated with mild vanilla hints of wood sweetness (oak traces) and a touch of carmelized sugar. Let this one roll down the tongue and enjoy the smokey sweetness, the slight hints of citric flavors and various phases of carmels sugars and syrups are tucked inside a warm smoked puff right off the old smoke house where the hams are curing. Warm finish with the oak trace returning still accompanied by smokes and sweet spices, a distinct absence of harshness or unpleasantness of any kind, the sophisticated bourbon enthusiasts will recognize the importance not only of what it is, but what it isn't. Will always have a special place in the heart of any bourbon aficionado and a spot on the bar. Blantons is just another of the great reminders that Bourbon is one of the few, truly great American art forms, that must be protected as our heritage!