Knob Creek 15 Year Bourbon (2020 Release)

Taste- 2 oz. neat in Glen cairn Nose- departure from the usual boiled peanuts, caramel, and brown sugar of signature Beam products. This has smoke, oak, and vanilla front and center and then you get the sweeter notes. Palate- Upfront is oak and vanilla giving way to cherry, like a cherry cola and a bit of honey. There is a woodshop taste about it too which isn't overly done but puts it right on the edge of overoaked. In addition I get cigar box and just a hint of bitterness towards the back. Finish: Nice warming finish. Not the ass kick of the 25th Anniversary bottle, or the warming sensation of KC120, but more gentle. The finish is nice and long with a sweet cherry pop on the end. Definately outkicks it's coverage so to speak at 100 proof. Overall: A bit too much oak for me here. Although I enjoyed it, I didn't find it better than a 12-14yr KC 120 at twice the price. Will you be sad you bought it- absolutely not! Will you be happy with bang for the buck?- that is where you might scratch your head?

Nose is a beautiful array of fresh cut oak, peanuts, plums, a slight black pepper spice, and coffee. Th palate delivers with cherries up front, then earthy tones of sweet tobacco and leather, cinnamon and rye spice before delivering on a wonderful, oily finish of sweet toasted oak and spicy black pepper. I just can't get over how well this bourbon delivers.

Great spice, much less heat than usual KC even considering the lower proof, long finish. Would be 5 stars except for a less oily mouthfeel than expected for a 15 year