Time to update the Knob Creek 9 years Single Barrel Reserve like I said I would 1 month later (and more). Let see if it has evolved and I like it more . Still continued to drink it.. Bottle is about 3/4 full. Nose : First quick nosing , I smell the a lot of cinnamon and vanilla, like the first time, with quite a bit of toasted oak, more than first time (and less ethanol than first time tasting). On the second one, I feel a little bit of maple (meaty kind) not as faint as first time, brown sugar and the typical Beam peanut brittle. Adding water, I smell a little bit of cherry ? . As it open up in the glass, I feel less the cinnamon, vanilla, toasted and more of the sugary, maple-y and fruit-y. It is really more interesting and balanced than the neck pour and subsequent tastings during the week I bought it. Palate : I feel quite a lot of spice (pepper like) and oak at first (same type than first time , but It is not as overwhelming but still very strong) followed by some corn sweetness (not faint this time). Adding water really made it smoother. The spice is still there but it make it more balanced with the toasted oak and add to the sweetness but more on the maple-y side of it. The palate become richer for sure with time. Finish : A quite long finish that "hugs" you with a lot of Oak , cinnamon and sweet notes more akin to the maple-y and cherry-esque ones I did smell on the nose I still think the bottle is overhyped , but it is damn enjoyable for sure. I'm not really dissapointed about it. It really feels more balanced than the first time and more complex. The savors are more mixing with each other, none overwhelming each other. It still dont drink like 120 proof though. It did get better with time and now I would recommend it, but probably for a lower price tag . I would still recommend trying the "normal" 9 years before, because it is still a challenging whiskey for novice drinkers (like myself). I would probably recommend "resting time" and not a neck pour Adding water makes it more enjoyable for sure like most high proofers, but unlike the first time I think I didnt "drown it" so it is still a unique enough bourbon Let's hope it will still continue to evolve a little bit more .