Tastes

Sweet cereal grain on the nose, light. Sweet grain, floral grape, light oak and a whiff of smoke with mint spice coming on in the finish, which is fairly short. Delicate flavors hidden by dominant grain sweetness. Light in color, medium body and oily mouthfeel. A little Ice cube moderates the sweetness, stretches and rounds the flavors and finish. Works really well in a classic Whiskey Highball where the floral sweet blends with soda and ice. Initially disappointed by what seemed a one dimensional whiskey, but this Irish has grown on me, more as cocktail ingredient than as a sipper.

Caramel corn, vanilla oak, and a whiff of smoke on the nose. Sweet burnt sugar, oak, and then some ethanol heat from the 100 proof BIB. Medium body and oily mouthfeel, beautiful amber color. Finish is dry wood, smoke, and herbal spicy rye that lingers. Kind of two dimensional in flavor, but it's assertive enough to let you know it's there. Opens and the ethanol burst softens with an ice cube. It's not shy and stands up well mixed in a cocktail. It's the kind of bourbon you drink out of a cup, or make into a savory Manhattan on a Tuesday...which it is. Cheers.

Sweet, floral, fruity grain, and some light spice on the nose. Light color, thin body. Spicy ethanol burst and sour apple, then thin, astringent, and dry. Chocolate and spice finish, but the sour lingers. Flavors thin out quickly if you add water/ice. Disappointing as rye--lacks depth, oak, complexity, especially given a 100% rye masbill. More like a Canadian blending rye, not worth the premium price or the rating it received from Distiller's expert reviewer. The decidedly mixed community reviews are more telling. Later tastes... a little better, or maybe I'm getting used to it, but better mixed than neat. I'm just missing the whole WP adulation.

Grassy, spices, and yeasty sweet cereal on the nose. Spicy rye and burnt sugar, vanilla oak explode in the mouth. Medium thin body and some ethanol burn. Mint, pepper and spicy through the finish. Astringent oak wood and sour flavors linger. Opens and mellows with a little water/ice. I'll have to think about this over time, but first, second, and third night tastes are pretty consistent. Doesn't hit the quality mark for me. Much like their micro-barreled rye I had 5 years ago.

Floral caramelized sugar and cereal on the nose. Honey maple syrup and light oak in the mouth, full body and sweet. Grassy spice, mint, eucalyptus grows in a short finish. More one dimensional profile than many, but higher proof makes this perfect for mixing cocktails.

Sweet and sour and spice on the nose. Pickle-ish smell that's unusual but not unpleasant. Flash of dill and ethanol, then sweet cereal, spicy mint, light oak, and very dry in the mouth. Finish is dry, short, then grassy spice and a little oak tannin builds with time. MGP high rye mash makes this a high quality product at a low price, worth sipping and great for mixing.

Woody smoke and alcohol on the nose. Astringent, sweet cereal, and woody all at the same time, with a little raw alcohol. Quick finish, odd aftertaste. Unique profile, but not sure the pecan helps. Gifted in 2016, and stayed in my closet for a long time so I tasted it over time. Did not grow on me.

Vanilla, brown sugar, with light tropical fruit and char oak on the nose, very pleasant. Coating and soft mouthfeel, hint of fruit, brown sugar cereal, and then some spicy grassy rye comes on. Orange peel in the finish. No deep smoke or oak for the 12 years. At 50 ABV it has enough umph to take notice, but easy to drink. Opens with a little ice, but disappears faster in the finish. Another quality Knob product. BTW, named overall Best American Whiskey of 2020 by Breakingbourbon.com (Dec 2020), and #2 most exciting whiskey of 2022 by Whisky Advocate.