Anthology
Knob Creek Smoked Maple
Bourbon — Kentucky, USA
Reviewed
November 20, 2020 (edited March 20, 2021)
Ever heard the expression “fine from far, far from fine” [up close]? Have you ever had your eye on a good looking girl, often day-dreaming about possibly hooking up with her (because, good odds). Then finally getting a chance and found the experience so wanting that you not only decide to never date/hang out with blonde, blue-eyed women ever again, but also question your own judgment? Well, ummmm, enter Knob creek maple finish.
I cracked open this bottle several months ago and when I nosed it, it held so much promise I couldn’t wait to get my tongue on it (This is Not a Luxury Innuendo, Monsieur Compass Box 😊). Maple syrup, dark brown sugar and charred caramel interwoven in a mist of vanilla ethanol filled the nose.
However upon first sip, I was like, what have I done!? Never again! It felt like I was drinking watered-down grade A maple syrup with my bourbon. If you look up the phrase “cloyingly sweet” in the World Dictionary of Phrases, which by the way does NOT actually exist (sorry for the tease @CKarmios @DigitalArc ), you would be greeted by a picture of this here dram. God, it is sweet!!! I’m not going to waste your time breaking down the palate and finish. I’ll just say take concentrated simple syrup + brown liquid...and use your imagination.
Because I do believe in second chances (and sometimes 3rd & 4th chances...depending), I went back for another taste this weekend. Being a glass-half-full proponent, I had hoped that good ol oxi-D would work some magic on this over time. Nay I say unto thee, a fools errand it was! Another hope dashed. There’s only so much oxygen can do. I mean, it gives us life. What more do you want?
All that said, what I did find was that a tiny, deftly placed dash of this KCSM “bourbon” transformed my home blends into something quite interesting...and dare I say, occasionally extraordinary. It turned some of my run-of-the-mill bourbons into so called honey barrell bourbons. And I swear, a [deft] splash of this with a few ounces of a 12yr cask strength dram from a big name, top-shelf producing Cambletown distiller, whose name shall remain unspoken (mostly for fear of being destroyed & ostracized by this distillery’s fanboys for attempting such sacrilege... @cascode @ScotchingHard @dhsilv2 @Rick_M @Soba45), turned the blend into an approximation of a “decent quality” sherried Islay (think bowmore 15yr). Don’t ask me how it happened. It just did.
Thusly IMHO, this is a complete write-off as a neat pour by itself. But in blends, deftly handled, it’s a whole ‘nother story.
And so follows the dilemma. Do I score this based on the positive impact it has had on my home blends? Do I score it on its own merits alone? I’ll perversely borrow Pat Riley & LBJ’s “let’s keep the main thing the main thing” and go with the latter. 1🌟 it is. I guess I could go below 1🌟 but gotta draw the line somewhere and give baseline score for effort. Cheers PoD!
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I read somewhere this was meant to be used as 1/4 the called for bourbon in an old fashioned, have yet to try it myself. if you went fancy boy with chilled OF glass, peychauds, and wood match'd the orange garnish I bet it would get a fair review, but knob and crown never apparently thought to pass this on to the bartending/drinking public until maple whisky had been in the clearance bin for years
Haha! You practically killed me with that @peat69shiznit !
I bought a bottle of this several years ago, and had the same, "What the hell?" reaction. I also ended up mixing it (not with Springbank), and was always shocked by how even a small dash could overpower virtually anything I mixed it with. Sadly, I did not contemplate french toast. That actually sounds great, though not great enough to pick up another bottle.
@peat69shiznit Lol!
I was once given a bottle of this, and my opinion of it is the same as yours. I found that the best way to have it is to make a big batch of pancakes and some nice, thick-cut bacon. You pour a little Maple Creek Smoked Knob into a cup, throw it away, and enjoy your breakfast
@Clarkebar LoL !
@Anthology holy crap. Even better!!
@BDanner I don’t do a lot of pancakes but I’m definitely trying it in my French toast batter. Good tip!
@ContemplativeFox Not yet but now you’ve said it...for sure
@CKarmios Wouldn’t expect anything less. 👏🏼👏🏽👏🏾Your side comments are by themselves, a treat
@Ctrexman L🤣L. Be careful what you wish for
@ScotchingHard @cascode Haha I promise it was the one time...for science.
@PBMichiganWolverine ... that explains so much. Thanks for sharing.
Yup, death by firing squad will suffice. :)
When I was a toddler, my mom added a spoon (or two) to my milk bottle. Put me right to sleep.
A little bit added to your pancake batter is a good use.
Very enjoyable review :) I'll be interested to hear if you find a decent way to use this that doesn't require mixing it with $100 scotch. Have you considered mixing with with a regular bourbon in an old fashioned?
Yours may not of the same intensity as @ScotchingHard 's raw rant reviews be, or of the same multitude in number as @cascode 's miscellany of weird bottling ones; what this is though is a siren's call(*), for I'm now want of tasting the one that must not be named (*), doubly so for I now also know that the cuffs do not the collar match(*) @Ctrexman and also possess not the wisdom of @Soba45 to help me see through this shenanigan. You, sir, could sell ice to eskimos(*), if only by suggesting they add it to the one that must not be named(*). As for the Campbeltown incident, to paraphrase @cascode "let him who is without sin cast the first stone"(**). Actually, three hail drams will suffice and all shall be forgiven, for you, my fellow bibber, are a true Brother in Drams. (*) very useful book this World Dictionary of Phrases. (**) not from the World Dictionary of Phrases
Nah, just kidding ... it’s your booze, and who am I to talk - I’ve been known to pour Coke into just about any single malt at least once just to see what it is like.
YOU ... DID ... WHAT! 😧😢😡
You shall face the wrath of the cult for your sacrilege....Ill take the blue eyed blonde off your hands though
Ooooh, contaminating the Springbank are we? That's so 2020.
Haha nice review. To be fair when i heard the name of the whisky i was like that was never going to be good!