Knob Creek Small Batch Bourbon (NAS)

Sweet up front. Caramel, vanilla, wood and spice. Moderate burn on the long lasting finish.

Sweet, full, wood

The nose is blandly bourbony with some tart, floral, and alcohol notes coming out. The palate is weaker than expected with lots of minerals and also lots of alcohol. There is some complexity though with a caramel flavor melding into butterscotch with some marzipan and mild cinnamon coming on at the beginning before giving way to a relatively full and quite rich flavor. There's a bit of apple and a hint of cherry in with the minerals. The wood is present but not terribly aggressive and it is understated. I might like a bit more spice on the front, but this is ultimately rich enough with a decent amount of complexity. It makes a good mixer for sure and it's also sippable. Old Forester Signature is more complex and interesting, earning an extra couple of points. The Old Forester might also be sweeter. This is more nutty than the old Forester is, with almonds being particularly present. As a result, it is also a bit more oily and slightly rancid, the latter of which is certainly not a good thing but may be acceptable in certain circumstances (i.e. acquired tastes a la Old Forester).