The Knob Creek 25th Anniversary Single Barrel release commemorated the 2017 milestone of 25 years of Knob Creek, a product that Booker Noe instated in 1992. Booker Noe's son, Fred celebrated the milestone with this release.
When Dad introduced Knob Creek and the Small Batch Bourbon Collection 25 years ago, he created it with the flavor, care and craftsmanship that defined high-quality, full-flavored bourbon,” said Noe. “I am honored to keep this tradition alive every day, and am proud to celebrate 25 years with our fans by releasing a special product that features Dad’s preferred ‘uncut and unfiltered’ style, combined with my passion for single barrel bourbons.
This sample review and photo are courtesy of the ever kind local whiskey guy John Deane. This kind soul also helped me out significantly with Booker’s boxes when I put the call out. Appreciate it! Let's find out how this single barrel offering came out! Your mileage may vary given this is a single barrel product.
Company on Label: James B. Beam
Whiskey Type: Bourbon
Mash Bill Percentages: 75% Corn, 13% Rye, 12% Barley
Proof: 121.2°
Age: 12-13 years per their release statement, assumed 13 based on the barreled date
Further identification: Barreled 5/13/2004
Nose: Mmm dusty; caramel, nutty oak and patches of citrus - I can tell I am going to like this profile already. Spices and leather up front followed by proofy vanilla. Light cloves nestled into the oak. The caramel is turning creamy now as some of the proof expires. Very oaky, but it's bright and well charred. Candied apples and molasses now. More vanilla as some touches of white pepper sneak in. The oak almost feels like it's halfway to smelling more like paper (I guess that makes sense)... The vanilla has now started to open up into a sugary marshmallow - a hallmark smell I love to get on a good pour. Trace notes of leather continue to flourish near the bottom.
Palate: Syrupy cherry hots forward at the start! The mouth feel wisps around like a flame with some spice tingling from the middle of the tongue towards the front and then flashing away towards the back as the heat is extinguished. Fairly plain profile to this with your typical caramel and vanilla notes dominating without much intensity. The nose has been much more impressive so far. Now on a subsequent sip some flavors begin to build with some lemon peel, cloves, leather and slightly tannic oak. This pour feels unapologetically simple - and that's okay. Not every pour has to knock your socks off and slap you upside the head. Near the bottom of the glass things have leaned back towards a citrus profile similar to a Knob 12. My last sip is small, but enjoyable - creamy caramel is once again well offset by dark leather and a bit of spice.
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