Knob Creek Small Batch Rye

RYE SHOWDOWN #3 Bulleit 95 Rye Frontier Whiskey Knob Creek Small Batch Straight Rye Whiskey Continuing my recent foray back into ryes (see “High Test Rye Showdown,” 8/17/22, and “Rye Showdown #2,” 8/21/22). Bulleit 95 Rye Frontier Whiskey Surprisingly, this bottle is over half empty, and I don’t recall drinking any within the past two years, at least. Watered down orange mahogany bourbon in color. Nose shows some rye typicity, oak, cinnamon, honey, and a hint of eucalyptus. Coming back to it after the Knob Creek reveals a Granny Smith apple note. A bit thin on the palate, where some vanilla makes an appearance, along with orangey citrus and a little back-end spice. Finishes similarly. No age statement, but at least four years due to the “Straight American Rye Whiskey” designation. 95% rye; 5% malted barley. Sourced from MGP. 90 proof. No hard edges; nothing off-putting; but very middle-of-the-road. Would make a decent Manhattan or Old Fashioned (now that I think of it, I think this is how more than half of my bottle found its way out). 3.0 on the Distiller scale. Knob Creek Small Batch Straight Rye Whiskey This bottle has only a quarter of it remaining. Like the Bulleit, I believe this was the result of the same cocktails, and I haven’t consumed it on its own in at least a couple years, if at all (save an initial taste). Darker in color than the Bulleit: clear bourbon mahogany color. Rye on the nose, along with cherries, vanilla pound cake, light char, some coolness, and a noticeable dusty note. Creamy mouthfeel with some woody bitterness. This one is growing on me. Improves with air. Very gentle spice, with vanilla and lingering coolness appears again on the finish. The higher proof seems to help, although it is well integrated. No age statement. Bottled at 100 proof. Pleasant. The higher proof does make it cocktail-worthy. 3.25 on the Distiller scale. N.B. All spirits tasted neat in Glencairn glasses

Nose: Candied pears and caramel apples, sweet fresh caramel chews, herbal rye peaking through, a hint of dried dill, sweet and herbal virgin oak, milk chocolate with caramel filling, dusty grains (corn and rye), star anice, hint of oaky floralness like an oak blooming in spring, honeydew and cucumber water, some old vanilla seeds/pods, fruit infused iced tea, almonds, smoky barrel char, sweet tea and hazelnuts, baking spices (cloves, mixed pepper, dusty oak, pancake syrup, nutmeg, cardamom), floral honey, a touch of dates, a touch of butter, late harvest rye, mixed red and green jolly ranchers (strawberry and green apple), hint of maple Palate: Rocket sugar tablet candy (smarties in US), sweet paprika and cinnamon spice, slight saltiness, savoury fresh oak, sweet tea, sweet and spicy rye, tamarind, rosewater, light marzipan, sweet dill, some caramel sweetness, a touch of sweet vanilla, a hint of butter, mixed red and green jolly ranchers (strawberry and green apple), tannic red apple skins Finish: Cinnamon, green paprika, red and green apple skins, sweet yet tannic oak, a slight calcium minerality, some peppermint, overly steeped sweet tea/black tea, candied apple chunks, candied orange peel

7 year Age Statement Aroma - wow, thats nice… sweet toffee and bubblegum rye notes. Slight notes of strawberries and even citrusy lemon note. Some cotton candy notes as well. Man for a 7 year rye at sub $40.. this has a really good nose. I hope everything transfers to the palate. Taste - Everything from the nose transfers to the palate with the pleasant addition of a very light oak profile on the finish. Still get that bubblegum rye notes (no spicy rye notes), still very sweet and bright fruits with a touch of citrus with a nice toffee backbone. Bourbon drinkers rye without a doubt. Overall - It’s really good for the $40 price tag. Everything about it is above my expectations as far as the palate goes. It has great balance and really nice flavor profile at this price point. And the finish is quite nice as well for the proof. This is an absolute must have on hand and a great offering for someone who wants to try out a rye. And the new age statement makes for a great value

NOSE: Musty grain, vanilla, bananas, musty sweet corn, an herbal not that isn't grass - maybe leaves?, some kind of mixed spices, rye bread, buttercream icing, black pepper MOUTHFEEL: Oily TASTE: Spicy vanilla, black pepper, honey, something floral, cinnamon, spiced tea FINISH: Pepper, spiced honey, fading into oak - medium SUMMARY: The legs promise an oily whisky, and it is. The nose and the taste are very pleasant. With such a low rye percentage (only 55%) I'd expect this to be more like a bourbon, but it's not - it's something distinctly different. I like it. I just got a pint, not being sure whether I'd like it; next time it'll be a fifth. RATING: Fine

The nose really draws you in, caramel, spicey rye and bazooka joe bubble gum. The palate hits completely different than the nose though, quite hot, fairly dry and herbal. The heat goes down during the finish and I get oak and leather as it dissapates. You definitely feel the higher ABV on this, and while a little water tones down the heat, I didn't find that it brought out the flavours any further. Definitely interesting but not really my cup of tea when it comes to rye.

On the nose i get notes of butterscotch and a sweetness undertone (like a cane sugar). Fisrt sip has all the indicators of a true rye. Black pepper, clove, char, and a slight oak feel. Full mouth burn and at 100 proof this one has all the feels. Ice cube doesnt change profile but slows the black pepper. After ice its soft at first but intensity and burn returns quickly. Good but not great for me. Im not big into full burn whiskey but i know there are those who love it.