Knob Creek Single Barrel Select Bourbon

Hot and caramel together!

Stateline Elite 15 Year

Smell reminds me of a musty hotel room, but not in a bad way. Suck past the tongue for a red licorice taste.

A sample from dthom as part of the "whiskey transfer program". This is a 120 proof 14 year barrel pick. I usually like Jim Beam products in general and Knob Creek specifically so I'm looking forward to this. Nose: Very sweet vanilla with dark caramelized sugars and toasted nuts, and a background grassy herbal note. The more I get in to the nose the more I get the usual nutty Jim Beam feel that I enjoy. Flavor: More vanilla and dark sugars, heavy toasted nuts, some baking spice, red fruits especially cherry. A little buttery which I enjoy. A little like caramelized pecans or peanut brittle. Finish: Medium long with more toasted nuts, barrel char, some rye spice, baking spices, fading in to a drying nutty barrel flavor that I enjoy. Hits all the high points I expect from a Jim Beam product and at quite a solid price point. High value and very tasty.

Flat

Knob Creek Single Barrel Select 14yrs 120 proof (store pick) The color is a rich mahogany...evident of the age. Swirling coats the glass with thick legs running down Nose: immediate is a massive hit of rich vanilla and maple syrup, oak boards at a lumber mill. My mind immediately goes to thinking “Stagg Jr-esque.” Neck pour, so I’m going to let it sit & breathe for 20 mins and come back. Ok, back at it. Cedar shavings & toasted oak notes dominate now. Layers of a sweet dusty corn, rich caramel, and buttered brown sugar float around under the oak notes. Palate: Rich, oily, sweet, hot and spicy, and a big Kentucky hug after the swallow. This is a big bourbon and it lets you know right away. Caramel, toasted marshmallow, brown sugar and butter flambéed over vanilla bean ice cream, mint, cedar, cinnamon red hots, all spice, sweet corn, grape sweet tarts. Finish: drying, cracked black peppercorns, leather, vanilla cream and mint, and boiled peanuts. The finish fades but the oak presence lingers on. In summation, this is a gorgeous big ass bourbon...esp for the price. A nice substitute for Stagg Jr if you can’t find it and at a better price point to boot. This possibly just shot up to my top 5 bourbon list. Will have to do a side by side with Stagg Jr and see if it supplants the mighty Stagg. I think it can go toe to toe. If you love big rich flavors and oak presence this is a whiskey for you.

Got this at total wine, amazing bourbon for the price. Rich flavors of caramel, oak and leather. With ice you get some of they Jim beam peanut funk that I love. I would rate this higher than many $100+ bottles. Amazing value.