The standard bottling of Knob Creek was my first experience with "fine bourbon," so to speak...very specifically, drinking it on the rocks while in the bar on the 96th floor of the John Hancock Building here in Chicago. This, the higher proof, single barrel sibling of the basic Knob Creek, is a hyped up version of the good and the bad that Knob Creek offers. On the plus side, the flavors here are lush and rich - lots of caramel, cinnamon, ginger, maple syrup, all with a beautiful, buttery mouthfeel. The downside is that there's nothing particularly complex or unique, other than perhaps the strong maple note. It is what it is. What it is, fortunately, is quite tasty, but this isn't the kind of bourbon that'll redefine for you what bourbon can be. It's just a solid, reliable dram...but there's nothing wrong with that, as long as you're not expecting your mind to be blown.