This one goes in sweet and goes down hot, reminding you that sometimes whiskey can taste pretty much like the fire water you read about in books. When it hits the tongue, there's elements of pear, apple, a touch of honey, and even a tiny shadow of anise; but you don't have too long to think about it, since as soon as it hits the back of the mouth and the throat, you'll make Al Pacino "Hooo-ah!" noises (and/or Bobby Canavale coke faces, a reference you'll understand if you ever saw the awful HBO series VINYL). Which is all to say: Sometimes, those of us who like to sniff, sip and linger forget that this stuff is supposed to kick our asses. Knob Creek Single Barrel Bourbon kicks your ass, with a little class up front. I guess it's like a mullet.