Knob Creek 12 Year Small Batch Bourbon

Fantastic. Buy

Nose: There's a warm, fruity quality to this. Macerated, warmed strawberries. Banana pancakes with whipped cream. Charred oak, brown sugar, vanilla. Roasted, salted nuts, black pepper. Thyme and basil. Lemons and camphor. Biscuits. Palate: Brown sugar, oak, vanilla, black pepper. Orange creme savers. Baking spices - hot cinnamon coming through. Cocoa, leather. A little barrel bite and some decent tannin. Stewed fruit. Just a bit of herbs. Cedar and sandalwood. Decent tannin texture and flavor. Palate is pretty well developed top to bottom. Medium mouthfeel. Finish: Vanilla, oak, brown sugar, oranges, apricots, and cream. Slight nuttiness. Biscuits, dry cocoa, leather, and dusty books join the party. Maduro tobacco, too. Slight cream comes in and things slowly coast off. Medium length finish. Other notes: I don't often like comparing things but this one is almost necessary. Long story short - this is Knob Creek, though much more refined. The extra time in-barrel (and the selection of barrel) leads to a much more mellow profile. The complexity is dialed up, but the slightly unapologetic nature of the 9 year has been tamped down. Something I will likely buy again. Highly enjoyable, if a slight change of pace from my usual.