In a time when so many distilleries are dropping age-statements, it's refreshing to see Jim Beam expand its Knob Creek portfolio in the way that it has. I was already a big fan of the NAS KC; now there's an upgraded 9 (plus the 9-year SB that I reviewed recently), this 12, and even a 15. This is the first of the three I've gotten my hands on. Based on the reviews around here, I'm excited to give this one a go. Nose: Caramelized apple, ginger, and vanilla. Classic Beam peanut brittle. Maple and more of that sweet candied apple. Caramel and fudge. Apricot and orange peel. Heaps of brown sugar. Cinnamon, black pepper, clove, nutmeg, flour, and oak. So fresh and clean. Pungent, as you'd expect at 50% ABV, in the best way possible. Palate: Corn forward. Cocoa and caramel. More oak forward than the nose. Cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg. Lots of tobacco. Gala apple and toffee. Rye notes pop on the mid-palate in the form of black pepper and dill pickle. Some more of that caramelized apple hits again at the tail end. Awesome. Finish: Right off the whistle it's black pepper, dill pickle, clove, and nutmeg. Apple, caramel, and vanilla punch through after the spice dissipates. Medium-to-long finish. Very nice. Wow. Another home run for the Jim Beam Distillery. Until recently, my 5-star ratings for JB products were reserved for Booker's batches. I threw KC SB 9 a 5-star rating, but I also called it Baby Booker's, so that doesn't do much to shake precedent. This one is nothing like Booker's. It's also considerably unique to any Knob Creek offering I've ever tried. It's what I'd call a nuanced beast. I'm very happy that this has become a core offering in the JB family. At $50, this is a steal and a half. I know I'm late to the party on this one. If you're more tardy than me, grab this one on sight.