Knob Creek 15 Year Bourbon (2020 Release)

Knob Creek 9 is solid. Knob Creek 12 was even better. So the 15 has to be amazing, right? It’s a Single Barrel, it’s Jim Beam, and it’s the oldest bourbon I’ve reviewed. Let’s see what it’s all about. This is from Batch: KC001, which I guess makes it from 2020. Nose: Peanut brittle and peanut butter. Cherry and brown sugar. Vanilla, caramel, and toffee. Cocoa and tobacco smoke. Pistachio, walnut, and almond accompany the peanut. Sawdust and lumber. Black pepper, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, and a heavy, heavy oak note. Palate: Peanut brittle, peanut brittle, cocoa, and brown sugar. Vanilla and caramel. Gala apple, dried apricot, golden raisin, and leather. A hint of cherry and cola. Almond. Heavy bitter oak. Black pepper, clove, and nutmeg add some heavy spice. Finish: Peanut brittle and peanut butter. Caramel and vanilla. Dried apricot, cocoa, and tobacco smoke. Black pepper, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, and oak. Long finish, as expected of a 100 proof beast. As expected, it’s an awesome whiskey. A few years in the barrel works wonders for the KC formula, although that applies slightly more to the 12 than this 15 year. Not saying much about this one considering that I think the former is as good a whiskey you can find. Extremely well-balanced bourbon. It only has two weaknesses. It is fairly bitter, which can be attributed to the 15 years it spent in the barrel. And compared to the 12, VFM. At $95, this almost double the cost for a comparable (maybe slightly inferior) bourbon. It may not beat the 12, the Single Barrel 15 is fantastic nonetheless. It is absolutely delicious and potent in all the right ways. 4.75/5.

If you spend more than 5 minutes using your finger to try to fish out something that is floating in your last pour of a bottle that it older than most of your family, even after you wash your hands three times after, you will still smell the bourbon on your finger. Or so I’ve heard. Nose is cream, vanilla, sugar. Lemon. Bit of cherry. Body is oak up front, with caramel, chocolate, coffee to follow. Leather. I could see the cherry still. Finish is black pepper. Vanilla comes back. It’s got a good feel, but it’s not as dynamic as the first half of the drink. There’s a bitterness too. This was delicious. I always say that Knob Creek is my Beam of choice… and this aged version really delivers.

Nose: a thick caramel, nuts, classic vanilla. Palate: definitely oak forward, caramel and vanilla follow nicely. Nice light peppery rye which adds a nice flavor and is not harsh. Later bright blackberry Body: medium Finish: medium. Ok finish. Not long enough or smoky enough but good none the less Note: sample from Jared. Prior to tasting I heard it was woody and not as good as the 12 year version. I haven’t had the 12 year though so I won’t be able to say. I am looking forward to tasting this though. This was good. Not as woody as I expected but definitely oak forward but it let up to more traditional flavors.

With Booker's as my personal favorite brand, high end Knob Creeks are usually not too far behind. I found my first bottle of this upon release and I'm about 80 % of the way through the bottle. Great news is that recently I found another on a shelf. While an expensive bottle, I just love this. Peanut Butter Pie for me. Creamy, peanut butter, and vanilla notes. The finish is the star for me. Long & rich vanilla peanut notes with a Creamy mouth feel. Few drops of water expand the finish. Just wonderful.

Quite oak forward on the nose. A darker tangent of stewed prune adds more balance, lendng a sweet fruit aroma. A first pour gives sparkling rye spice wrapped in a coat of aged cask. A second reveals sweet breakfasty flavors of raisin bread and sugared toast. The finish is long and ends on a tannic and crisp rye note. Overall, things are held together by the wood and are just on the edge of being aggressive. But, poured over ice, it becomes a mellow and friendly bourbon.

Not as nutty and aged as I hoped but more over-oaked with drying and hot tannins. Slight caramel flavors and sweetness but overpowering for a 15 year of hot cinnamon, leather, flambeed orange peel, and burnt sugar. Not really complex either with a medium finish and a medium-light weight to it. Better than most but many other great bourbons out there under $100