I remember tasting the standard Knob Creek 100 Proof Rye without the age statement maybe about five years ago. I think back then it was a $30 whisky and I remember it being pretty good. It was right about the time I was getting more heavily into trying varied whiskies but I was still working with a budget so we weren’t talking anything too crazy, but it was actually my dad’s bottle and we were watching the Eagles play football, which is when we tend to drink together. So, it’s tough to make a comparison whether the quality is all that much higher with a 7 Year age statement put back on the bottle. Don’t get me wrong: I’m not complaining. It’s about $40 now, and given the five year’s between then and now and the addition of the age statement I’m not complaining about a $10 hike. This is still punching above its weight in price range and it’s still above average to quite good. I have to be honest, I’m reviewing this at the end of the bottle. This is my last pour and I want to drink it, but I realize that I’m also reviewing it having just shot two squirts of Flonase into each nostril to try to remedy a bout of tinnitus I’ve been suffering. Not sure what’s causing it and the Flonase might be a long shot but it worked for a buddy of mine and I suffer from allergies anyway, so it’s not a total loss even if it doesn’t cure the tinnitus. Too much information? Okay, I’ll get back to the whisky. Rye fan here: I’ve declared that in previous reviews. I like rye better than bourbon. Don’t get me wrong, bourbon’s good, but I prefer savory to sweet, a salty snack rather than an ultra-sweet dessert, and as ryes go, this is on the spicier, savory side. The aroma is a spice rack aroma: cinnamon, nutmeg, brown sugar, cardamom with hints of caramel and vanilla. If there’s fruit here it’s being masked by the Flonase. But I’m kidding. I’ve had this plenty of times and I don’t turn to it because it’s fruity. You don’t go to Knob for fruit. Even the bourbon is mostly an oaky, leathery, nutty, vanilla profile. On the palate the spice continues but more of the caramel comes through. It’s got a great mouthfeel and a moderate finish with a nice bit of spice hitting the back of the tongue that’s quite pleasant in its bite rather than astringent. The only thing I can say against this is that the Single Barrel Ryes of Knob at 115 proof are far superior but they’re $30 more expensive and well worth every penny. I really like what Knob offers in all its iterations whether it’s the standard 9 Year Bourbon, this rye, the single barrels or the 12 year Bourbon. I’ve snapped them all up, and as long as the quality holds will continue to do so. My wife was asking for cocktails tonight and she was looking for rye cocktails, so I made her a Rye Algonquin and this other recipe from our cocktail book called Mr. B. She asked if I had any rye open that was good for mixing, and this would have served the purpose wonderfully, but I only had one pour left and wanted to review it, so I mixed with my New Riff Malted Rye 6 Year, and she was over the moon about the quality of the rye in her cocktails. I told her it was a special occasion, that I was using my good sipping rye for her, and why? Because I love her. But believe me, when I’m in the store next and I need to get a mixing rye, it’s going to be the old 1.75 L bottle of Knob 7 Year. Can’t go mixing with my New Riff all the time. It wouldn’t be fair to the Riff.