Cornmuse
Reviewed
February 14, 2020 (edited June 12, 2020)
Revisiting this with a more complete review picture. I'm a Knob Creek fan. I started drinking the original 9 year 100 proof sometime in 1993, right after it was released. It was love at first sight. I've been a scotch head since the 80's, with a side deal with Canadian whiskies. I never really cared for bourbon much. My best friend was wholly committed to Maker's Mark at the time and, frankly, that wasn't my jam.
Fast forward 25 years. After being less that impressed with the NAS 100 proof I'd stopped drinking it. Honestly I didn't notice that loss of the age statment. What I noticed was that it just didn't move the monkey anymore. And if you're a whisky-head then you know that damn monkey had better be dancin' or you're out buying a fresh bottle of something. And through some bizarre law of physics, something is never less expensive than the last thing...
Its not like KC became bad, but it just didn't sparkle anymore.
Then I found a 9 year old, 120 proof single barrel masterpiece. It had been released because... and get this... evidently a bunch of folks like me had just lost interest in Knob Creek.
And you know what?
Love again!
AND THEN I HAD A STORE PICK THAT WAS TRULY EXTRAORDINARY!.
Holy corn juice, Batman! That bottle got the monkey break dancing!
This is one of my "core selections".
These are the bottles I could enjoy forever.
Knob Creek Single Barrel, Wild Turkey Rare Breed, Old Grand Dad 114, George Dickel Bottled in Bond, and Evan Williams Single Barrel.
The WT and KCSB are tied for first in my heart.
This KCSB is sweet, complex and sophisticated. I don't need to list what it tastes like or smells like. Go get a bottle! THIS is what great bourbon tastes like!
Ordinarily I'd say this is a solid 4. That is to say it's top 20% of every bourbon I've ever had. Better than 4 out of every 5. And I'm standing by that. Keep that damn BT or ER, I'm drinking this.
And once in a while, because this is a single barrel and they have some variability, you get a bottle that just satisfies. Its delicious. It checks all the boxes. Strong. Sweet.
Complex. Aromatic. Full flavored. There's just nothing more you can ask from a $45 bottle.
I'm having a generous pour from a bottle like that right now. With chocolate covered strawberries. And my wonderful wife of 40 years next to me. How good does ice cream get?
And so I ask you; what more can one want from a whiskey?
45.0
USD
per
Bottle