Knob Creek 9 Year Single Barrel Reserve

Liquor City Uncorked pick, "Gallenstein Selection #38" Warehouse Z; Floor 04; Rick 023 Barrel Filled 11/09/2011 Bottled on 06/13/2021 Age - 9 years, 7 months, 4 days Open 7 months Nose - Kettle corn, caramel, honey roasted peanuts, toasted marshmallow, tobacco, medium oak, and medium ethanol. Palate - Burnt caramel, oak extract, peanut shells, toffee, brown sugar, and old leather. Finish is medium-long with lots of tannic dry oak, burnt popcorn, salted caramel, and strong ethanol. These used to be a tremendous value, but I think those days have passed. Let me bring you back 6 years on a trip to bourbon nostalgia where these picks were easily one of the best buys in the market. I first got into store picks in 2018-19, and a Knob Creek SiB pick that was over 15 years old at my local ABC store was $45. It was amazing. To this day one of the best bourbons I've ever had. It was so good I bought another on my grad school stipend. And that's that. Those bottles sat at that store for months. I could've bought cases. In the year or so after that pick, I turned up my nose at Knob Creek SiB picks that were 12-13 years old. I thought, I'll just wait for another 14-15 year old. Then the price started creeping up, first to $50, then to $60. Not a huge deal, for a 9+ year nearly barrel proof bourbon, that's still great value. But then the older store picks dried up at the same time. Good luck finding anything over 10 years. Then Jim Beam revealed the reason this was all happening. Knob Creek 12, Knob Creek 15, and Knob Creek 18. Now to get the older stuff, you have to pay more, and it's only 100 proof. Were they losing money on these old store picks? I doubt it. Did they see the bourbon market exploding and rejigger their Knob Creek line to make more money. Very likely. Knob Creek 12 is good, but please release a cask strength version? And I have little desire to pay the money for the 15 or 18 year. I know they would both be disappointing. Oh back to this pick. It's fine. It's better than a lot of bourbons around this price, but there's nothing great about it. It lacks sweetness and is too dry and oaky for its age. I probably won't be buying any more of these picks until I get to try them first.

Color: Deep amber. Nose: When I first opened the bottle, I got punched in the face with molasses. But it's odd how that seemed to dissipate with time. This nose is reminiscent of some Booker's batches that I have had. Leather is also present on the nostrils. Palate: Again... very Booker's-esque. Oaky, spicy, slightly sweet. Does not drink per its proof — pretty smooth for 120. As I continue to sip, I'm getting some "graham cracker". But "Spice" is the predominant profile on this one. Spicy, woody, smokey with a nice dose of sweetness to balance things out. Finish: Long with much of the palate carrying over. I seldom give ratings over 4.25. But this for me, personally, is quintessential Bourbon. It checks all the boxes. So I am giving this one a well- deserved 4.5! Excellent pour. Will definitely buy again.