Knob Creek 10 Year Rye

Woo, first review! I will try to do it justice. Nose offers an equal blend of sweet, spicy, and herbal notes with gingerbread, white pepper, oregano, lemongrass, fennel, wintergreen, sugar cookie, and light oak. Ethanol slightly bothersome given the relatively low proof. Palate is sweeter and less herbal than the nose would indicate. Snickerdoodle cookie, vanilla, cinnamon sugar, chili pepper, peanut, mint, and cake icing. Flavors nicely integrated and balanced. Finish is decently long offering rye spice, Red Hots candy, mature oak, rosemary, eucalyptus, and delightful citrusy zest. Mouthfeel is slightly thin-bodied, resulting in everything being felt under the tongue, but also on the creamy side which serves this well. The extra three years aging over the standard 7 year release has worked wonders here adding depth and complexity. At $69.99, it’s a good value in todays market given the age statement. That said, I have had better with less age although most of those were higher rye mashbills. This is a great offering for a “barely rye” 51% sort of thing. Rebuy dependent on what else is in the cabinet.