Nose - butterscotch, anise, clove, brown sugar, rye bread, vanilla, orange zest, spiced apple, black pepper, leather, musky deodorant, floral notes, polished oak, moderate ethanol burn. Taste - rich caramel, apple, clove, anise, herbal notes, leather, peanut butter, tobacco, tannic oak, floral notes, cherry, chocolate, cinnamon, moderate to high alcohol bite, finishing medium length with clove, butterscotch, and tannic oak flavors. I’ve had a number of Knob Creek bourbons, but never a rye. And this is a big one at 127 proof. The nose is rather tightly wound, but some nice perfumed aromas emerge, including dense butterscotch, bready rye spices, and a note similar to Old Spice deodorant. The palate is hot and rich. It’s obviously a low-rye rye, but there’s still a good amount of clove and anise along with dark fruits, leather, and tannic oak. The mouthfeel is medium and the finish is better than average. This is good rye. It’s strong and packs some rich flavors. Still, it verges on being youthful and sour. Not unpleasantly so, but enough to keep this from rating higher. It’s not my favorite rye profile as it’s slightly sweeter than I like, but I’d happily drink this one again. Many thanks to @pkingmartin for the generous sample!