Knob Creek 9 Year Single Barrel Reserve

Amazing!

Rich and quite smooth for a cask strength. Rich with some red fruit and a bit of wood., but not too deep. Spicy and fruity finish. Cinnamon, ginger, and cloves are present. I wish Wild Turkey Master's Keep Revival took some cues from this, though I do wish that the cinnamon on the finish were less strong. Fruit, spice, and wood hit immediately, but their flavors evolve in interesting ways. Tart rye balances the subtle sweetness. It's full and rich without getting in your face. Bit of alcohol comes through, but it is quickly overwhelmed by the other flavors. Some minerals are there and they mix well with the vanilla, which lasts subtly on the finish. The balance reminds me of Highland Park 18 (though the flavor does not), but with a bit too much kick and a bit of distortion that makes it somewhat inferior. There is a lot going on here. It's really good. There is a lot of rye here, but also a lot of wood that gives it an aged taste. There is some nice spice with cinnamon balancing out the strong clove. Plenty of vanilla is here, emphasizing the sweetness. Red fruit stands out, but doesn't take over. The complexity and richness here are terrific. The finish is quite good and complex. A bit less rye would be good, but as it is this is a really impressive drink. It's like Old Forester Signature mixed with Russell's Reserve Single Barrel, but better than either of them. Its flavors blend more naturally and it displays more complexity while avoiding some of the off tastes of Old Forester and the excessive cinnamon of Russell's Reserve (though it does have plenty of cinnamon). It also tastes older, giving it more richness. While it isn't a decisive improvement and is a bit too harsh, the depth of flavor here is tremendous, starting with vanilla and going through several stages to end with a rye element that is not overwhelming. There is a bitter woody backing, but also some mineral flavor. Combines, the flavors confuse the age. It isn't super sweet, which makes sense for an aged spirit. There are immediately lots of flavors bursting out, emphasizing the livelier elements of the drink, but under-emphasizing its age. The coconut flavor wafting out is the real key indicator that this might be an old spirit. In its defense, the high ABV does inherently affect its ability to taste aged. There is tons of spice and it actually tastes a bit too spicy. The sour flavors are also too strong. It's strong and doesn't taste incredibly old but it does have a nice amount of age to it. It's a bit tart with a cherry flavor and a bit of vanilla. There is a bit of a rich flavor that tastes of toffee with a little coffee, but it sits in the back, behind the vanilla and cherry, both of which certainly take over on the finish. Cinnamon is there, but under control. The flavor is quite good despite the strong alcohol. It's a nice clean flavor and an enjoyable drink, but not an all-time classic. The nose is mostly alcohol. The palate is surprisingly bitter. There's a good amount of wood that balances spices well. There's a decent amount of dark chocolate. The flavor is a bit bitingly bitter and could use some additional complexity. It tastes a little more complex and rich than Knob Creek Single Barrel until water is added to the Single Barrel, at which point some nice complex fruit flavors emerge and the single barrel becomes more complex.

Beautiful bourbon, smooth and balanced sweet vs heat that opens up with splash of water or ice cube. Toasted cereal and leather nose. Sweet vanilla, grain, and oak on the pallet, with some modest heat at 60% ABV, but doesn't overwhelm the taste. Finish comes with alcohol and spice but finishes quickly. A little H2O tempers and lengthens the finish. Bottles vary by the single barrel selected--I got a good one.