Knob Creek Bourbon x Rye

Nose- dusty white corn, cream soda, oak, and a hint of black pepper. There is also a signature Beam peanut odor to back it up. The nose is very inviting and balanced. Palate- It is tangy and crisp almost like apple cider would be. There is a touch of green apple, smokey oak, peanuts, and vanilla quickly then followed by pops of spices like cinnamon, allspice, and nutmeg. I really had to search for caramel, but a few drops of water made that revealed in plenty. Warm baked bread along with some heat comes on at the end. It is a tad drying at that spot, and perhaps turns a little citrusy as it moves to down the hatch. Water seems to change the citrus taste, and really helps that from being too acidic. Finish- I go out on a bit of caraway seed and black licorice. It is longer and lingering. Not in a bad way, but in a way that really showcases the rye towards the end. Overall- this is a strong addition to the lineup, and a super bargain at its price point. It is the delicate tightrope of balancing the rye and bourbon that I was most impressed with. You get the bourbon first followed by an almost completely rye finish. The flavors for the bourbon and then the rye come in almost as if they were staged or arranged to be that way. Sweeter nuttier, vanilla flavors at the front and then spicy, citrusy, elements going out. I weigh it up though VS. Wild Turkey's batches of Forgiven. For me it doesn't hit that mark, but it really is a schooling in the power of Jim Beam whiskies when beautifully blended. At 44.99 it is a definite bottle to have fun with.

Spicy nose with rye grains, mint, pepper, popcorn, vanilla, peanut, grass, and generic citrus zest. Ethanol nicely low. Palate is kind of jumbled; sea salt, hay, Cracker Jack, black pepper, cinnamon, clove, and a savory note (onion?) that when combined with the other flavors gives almost a steak seasoning note. There’s also a slightly sour element here; sourgum maybe. Bizarre. Everything is pretty bitter; there’s some peanut butter that wants to come out but never really does. Finish has herbal notes of cardamom, fennel, and mint along with with white pepper, black pepper, chili pepper (did I mention pepper? lol) almond, dry bitter oak and char. Mouthfeel is medium bodied, but also drying and grainy which really becomes abusive to the tongue over repeated sips. I’m definitely a Knob Creek guy, and have tasted many KC bourbons and ryes I’ve enjoyed, but this expression just doesn’t come together well. Very clashy. At $48, it’s in no way a rip off, but it just…isn’t very good. Yep, i said it.

Glass: Glencairn, rested 15 minutes. Color: Medium amber. Nose: Vanilla with a lot of spice. Palate: Cinnamon, clove, baking spice. Finish: Surprisingly long and very warm. Splash: A few drops of water helps to calm the spicier notes. Overall: 8.5/10 - I'm a rye guy (and a Knob Creek guy) and I found this to be overly spicy. It could be that it was the nck pour and this will open up over time, or it could be that this was just proofed a little too high. This would make a great Manhattan and at under $50 I'll have to try that.

Nose: Baking spices and rye spice along with caramel and brown sugar. Palate: Baking spices, white pepper, and orange peel before caramel and brown sugar take over. Finish: Baking spices, black pepper, and rye spice before brown sugar and caramel pull in against the spice, creating an equal balance between the sweet and spicy sides.

This is a rich sweet and spicy bourbon! The balance is very good! Still sweet enough to taste all of the bourbon notes but has the spice of the rye. This is an excellent addition to the knob creek lineup.

On the nose, I get notes of honey and minty spice. Nice combination of spicy rye and sweet wheat flavors. The bourbon gives it some smooth buttery notes as well. Overall, I like it a lot.