Knob Creek single barrel store pick aged over 14 years for under $40! Enjoyed neat from a Glencairn. This Beam expression offers a fairly simple nose and flavor profile, but those simple flavors are so rich, mature, and so well balanced. Sometimes a bourbon doesn't need tons of complexity to be considered great, and that's how I'd describe this one. On the nose is very rich maple, brown sugar, vanilla, pecan pie, and given the age, a surprising fresh toasted barrel wood scent. After 14 years I'd almost expect a somewhat musty barrel forward wood scent, but not so. The barrel is actually more of a secondary note behind the great sweet maple/vanilla combo. Again a fairly simple nose but very rewarding in the notes it offers. The palate instantly starts very hot served neat. A very hot and spicy warming heat, and rightfully so at 60% ABV and I love it; it's lively high spice, wakes your senses up, starts a fire on the tongue, means business. After the burn comes the rich flavors from the nose. It offers a taste of exactly what you smell here. Very rich sweet maple, toasted brown sugar, vanilla, spices of cinnamon and clove, and beautifully toasted wood. Also a nice minty menthol comes on late. Again not overly complex, but very balanced, so delicious, and rich deep classic bourbon flavors. Almost bourbon perfection! The finish lingers a while and is very pleasing, offering more maple, honey, cinnamon, and a more aged wood flavor. For a 14 year bourbon, I half expected an oak bomb, which I wouldn't have minded anyway. But that's not the case. Everything is in perfect harmony here, nothing trying to stand out among anything else. Overall for under $40 for a 14 year bourbon that's so well balanced and flavorful, this is hard to beat. All the classic bourbon flavors are represented here, but amped up to 11 and that's why I love the KC SiB! That combined with the 120 proof, and it's a heck of a deal for a quality pour. I'm not typically the biggest Beam fan, normally favoring Buffalo Trace or Turkey products, but the KC has earned a spot in my top rotation for sure! It's Kentucky Straight Delicious! Cheers!