Knob Creek Cask Strength Straight Rye (Batch 2)

This is the 2010 cask strength to follow up to the 2009 version that was Whisky Advocates 2nd whisky of the year in 2018. I really enjoyed the 2009 version and was hoping to get another when I went to the Jim Bean Urban Stillhouse in Louisville a few years ago, but ended with a recommendation from one of the employees for the 2010 which he claimed is better, plus it has a nice boost of 63.5% compared to the 2009 of just 59.8%. I asked if they had any bottles open to get a taste before buying, sadly they did not. My brother and I debated buying a whole bottle, since we only had room for four bottles to bring back in our luggage. We decided to just get a glass of something else and sit and enjoy watching the whisky rollercoaster there at the Stillhouse. After a few pictures and texts of the whisky rollercoaster to friends, and my brother and I plotting out how best to build one in our own living spaces at home - because what whisky enthusiast doesn’t have a bottle storage issue - including app design to bring the right bottle to you when you want it instead of digging through cabinets, we finished our drinks knowing this dream would probably never be a reality. We finally decided to settle for something more financially palatable than a whisky rollercoaster and went for the recommended 2010 bottle to find out if it is really better than the 2009 cask. After pouring a glass, I discovered that it’s best to let it rest for a few minutes as that proof can be overpowering with all that alcohol. But after a few minutes the alcohol blast will calm down and give you a much better nose of rich velvety rye caramel cream, baked apples, orange zest, cinnamon rolls, maraschino cherry, leather, black peppercorns, peanut shells and toasted marshmallow. The taste is medium body with a velvety caramel mouthfeel that transitions to loads of fruit, peach, orange, cherry, baked apples, and peanut shells then medium oak tannins come in with pepper and baking spices transitioning to a long finish with the fruits lingering. Do I think this is better than the 2009 version? Yes. I tasted the 2009 side by side with the 2010 and found the 2009 to be more spice forward whereas this is more of a fruit-forward rye. Both are amazing whiskies and I would be happy to have either of them, but my preference leans more towards that fruitier rye than all the spice. But this is a personal choice.

Lovely amber hue. First in the glass a nice waft of rye spice and brown sugar - signature Knob Creek Rye. One of my favorite tues this far was a 115 proof store pick. Funky and hot. Signature brown sugar, buttery sticky buns, red hot candies and heat…. But the funk is almost off-putting, sort of like lemon dish soap. With time a good dose of mint, leather and cherry comes out as the funk breaks up. Chinese five spice. Peanut shells. Blood orange. Creosote. Ash? And with that I no longer have nose hair thanks to the ethanol singe…. sorry but it’s true. Ok, so this one takes time. Let it breathe and the rewards are there. Still almost frighteningly spicy, oaky and hot but that brown sugar is always there to tie it together. BOOM! Vanilla, oak, lemon, mint, buttered toast… lots of heat… cherries, candy cigarettes, floral notes, red hot candies… more oak and allspice with a bit of nutmeg, browned butter and baking vanilla into the finish. I will say that the finish isn’t my favorite. It’s a bit bitter and tannic compared to the lower proof KC rye. What about water… no change on the nose. Mouthfeel becomes much more silky and the floral and herbal notes come out right away. This is liquid potpourri. I definitely prefer the palate more with some H2O added. Also elevated the finish to showcase more of the oak, mint, eucalyptus and cinnamon candies. This is the louder, more reckless but possibly fancier KC rye and doesn’t try to please anyone with an abundance of sweetness. There are some points where this reminds me of George T Stagg, for better or worse. It has some bitter character, is hot as hell and isn’t for everyone. Drinking it makes me sort of angry, but in a good way? Anyway, thanks to @pkingmartin for the sample! I’m strongly considering adding a bottle to my collection with the understanding that not many people will drink it with me unless they are also already drunk and angry.

Nose - butterscotch, anise, clove, brown sugar, rye bread, vanilla, orange zest, spiced apple, black pepper, leather, musky deodorant, floral notes, polished oak, moderate ethanol burn. Taste - rich caramel, apple, clove, anise, herbal notes, leather, peanut butter, tobacco, tannic oak, floral notes, cherry, chocolate, cinnamon, moderate to high alcohol bite, finishing medium length with clove, butterscotch, and tannic oak flavors. I’ve had a number of Knob Creek bourbons, but never a rye. And this is a big one at 127 proof. The nose is rather tightly wound, but some nice perfumed aromas emerge, including dense butterscotch, bready rye spices, and a note similar to Old Spice deodorant. The palate is hot and rich. It’s obviously a low-rye rye, but there’s still a good amount of clove and anise along with dark fruits, leather, and tannic oak. The mouthfeel is medium and the finish is better than average. This is good rye. It’s strong and packs some rich flavors. Still, it verges on being youthful and sour. Not unpleasantly so, but enough to keep this from rating higher. It’s not my favorite rye profile as it’s slightly sweeter than I like, but I’d happily drink this one again. Many thanks to @pkingmartin for the generous sample!

127 proof release. A primarily fruit forward nose with orange zest, peach, and apple along with some nutmeg, graham cracker and savory buttered corn. A faint hint of ethanol underneath, but hey it’s 127 proof, what do you want? Strangely absent are the candied sugar and herbal notes found in many other ryes. On the palate things get much more interesting; opens with the orange zest from the nose which becomes more of an orange peel, some charred meat, pecans, and barely sweet British scone, leading to hot cinnamon bears candy in the mid-palate. Finishes with cracked black peppercorn and mature oak tannin before re-finishing again with sort of a sweet cream note. The whole experience has a rich, savory quality and the flavors blend from one another seamlessly. A great ride. Mouthfeel is of medium density and a little on the grainy side. Overall very enjoyable expression of a high proof “Kentucky Rye”. Definitely closer to a high rye bourbon. Those looking for a more herbal profile should look elsewhere. At $64, it’s hard to call this a “great value” but certainly you get what you pay for here.

I have no idea what scottr is on or why he's rated twice but i'm with the other reviewers if it's the same batch i'm tasting 21b-20 this is fantastic stuff. Man from the low to the high but still reasonably priced end Knob Creek make great stuff. It has that bourony profile I'm not a huge fan these days but it executes so well I can't give it any less than a 4.25 it'd be a 4.5 or higher if I enjoyed the type of flavor profile. Straight pour and drink it went down so so smoothly without a drop of water. This thing is so bulletproof adding a liberal helping of water seemed to make zero difference to either the flavor and amazingly how strong it tasted. It tasted just the same without it. Thanks once again to @LeeEvolved

So, apparently there are couple people on here trying to scare people off this one. Having tasted it myself, I can understand that. I'd want more for myself at this price point as well.... From start to finish this is an impressive, rich, balanced, and delicious pour. The nose is dominated by caramel delights, with red apple, wrapped in rye spice notes and a hint of herbal tea. A sip reveals a rich, intense, creamy mouthfeel before the rye spice takes over. Sweet caramel corn on entry quickly giving way and balancing an intense (but manageable) punchy rye/black pepper spice. The finish starts with a warm KY hug, giving way to barrel spice/char and honey. Lingers long and sweet, begging for another sip.