Knob Creek Single Barrel Select Rye

I've been sitting on this bottle a while. I bought one at the tail end of 2019. Then, that following June, I bought another and gave it to my dad on Father's Day. Not sure why, having not opened or tasted it, I decided it was the right choice, but my dad likes your standard 100 proof Knob Creek Rye, the price was going up $10 on the barrel select (I got mine and the Father's Day bottle for $50 and have since bought another at $60), so I figured why the hell not? And when my dad opened his, I tasted it and thought it was pretty damn fine, but I didn't necessarily need to rush to open mine at that point, since I prefer spreading my tasting of good bottles out. Yesterday, I have my dad and my brother-in-law over to watch the Eagles play the Colts, and even though our team ended up pulling it out in the end, I don't think it's too bold a statement to say that the whisky I served was far better than the game. In addition to serving the Laphroaig 10 Sherry Oak and Ardbeg Beastie, I served the Sagamore Spirits Single Barrel Rye as well as opening Paul John Cask Select, Johnnie Walker Green, and Knob Creek Single Barrel Rye. Now, I'll have reviews of the Paul John and Johnnie Walker coming up, and those are interesting when paired in that they have very similar fruity notes, but the Walker is much better balanced than the Paul John (both were very good). But it was also a revelation tasting the Knob Rye Single Barrel after the Sagamore Single Barrel. Now, I'm giving this the same rating as the Sagamore because I think both are amazing. And being ryes both, they have similar notes. But the Knob is the subtler of the two. The Sagamore is your full orchestra and the Knob is a string quartet. The Sagamore is in your face and brash, Johnny Cash giving you that middle finger, and the Knob is an unplugged set by Neil Young, sitting along on stage with an acoustic guitar. The nose on the Knob has a graceful sweetness, a sort of maple toffee clove aroma with a slight hint of mint in the background. On the palate, you get spicy rye and vanilla with that slight edge of mint carrying through and a little bit of the earl gray tea taste on the back end. The finish is long and rich, but overall leaves me with the impression of elegance. While that Sagamore was brash, this Knob is refined. There's a place for both obviously, and giving them the same score, I can't pick one over the other. They're both well worth your while. The only question is, does the quality hold over the years? We'll have to wait and see, since I'm in no rush to open the 2022 bottling I bought. This was put in the barrel 10/8/2013 and bottled 3/27/2019, Warehouse W-K, Floor F-02, Rick R-08. Genuinely pleasing and will probably be gone far too quickly. This is a must try for all lovers of rye.

Warehouse: L Floor: 5 Rick: 025 Barrel date: 9-14-2016 Pick date: 10-26-21 115 proof This stuff is freaking amazing. -Nose: it evolves as it sits with a little water. It starts out with some mint, grass, cherry, and oak and after it sits for ten minutes turns completely into maple syrup. Mouthwatering. -Palate: something green and vegetal like fresh cut grass; lemon rind; cherry; dark sweets like dark brown sugar -Finish: menthol; oak; cherry cough syrup Complex. Good.

Warehouse: N Floor: 5 Rick: 018

4.15 nice peppery rye presence

I have high expectations for this one. I enjoyed the standard KC Rye and absolutely loved the Barrel Proof Single Barrel Bourbon. Hopefully the rye gets a similar upgrade as an SB BP. This bottle is from Barrel #7642. This bottle has the lighter green label—this is the older style packaging which means it was bottled at least a few years ago. Nose: Almond, walnut, cashew, and pistachio. Black licorice. Black tea, cocoa, and pipe tobacco. Pumpkin spice. Rye spice. Baking soda. Dill. Black pepper, clove, nutmeg, and oak. Palate: Caramel and vanilla. Apple and leather. Pistachio, walnut, and almond. Coca and black tea. Pumpkin spice. Rye bread and sourdough. More rye spice and massive black pepper. Orange peel and ginger. Clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, and oak. Finish: More of the apple, caramel, and leather. Cocoa, black, and pipe smoke. Pistachio and almond. Rye, black pepper, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, and oak. Long as they make a finish—as expected at 57.5% ABV. Solid nose and palate. Remarkable finish. Considering I paid $40–on sale down from $50–the VFM here is amazing at either price. Now, to compare this to the Knob Creek Rye and the KC SB BP. This is a major upgrade to the profile of the standard rye, with some Single Barrel complexity mixed in for good measure. However, it’s a hair behind its bourbon counterpart. Just a hair. As a result, this lands squarely at 4.75. One of the best I’ve had. And I feel the need to point out that the Beam distillery is demolishing the competition for when it comes to well-priced American whiskey. This one is just another in their belt.