Knob Creek Single Barrel Select Bourbon Whiskey

14 year “Lost Dutchman” store pick obtained in Gilbert AZ. Much like the actual Lost Dutchman’s mine, this bourbon is a total mystery; extensive research shows no bars or restaurants called “Lost Dutchman” in the AZ area. Where did this pick come from? I will admit it kind of adds to the allure, especially considering these older KC picks are relics from a bygone age… Nose is absolutely amazing with cherry, sweet oak, caramel, vanilla, a hint of corn, brown sugar, cinnamon bun, candied ginger, musty cellar, and citrus. Wow. Ethanol crazy low for the proof. Palate is much oakier than the nose would indicate also bringing black cherry, cola, barrel char, bananas foster, leather, smoke, and orange peel. Flavors are robust. Finish is long and features flan, ginger, allspice, cinnamon, black pepper, and more sweet oak. Mouthfeel is a delight; velvety and somehow prickly/effervescent at the same time . The perfect compliment given the nature of the flavor profile. Think I paid $79.99 for this and to say it’s worth that is an understatement, although back in the day similar picks could be had for around $55 (sigh) That said, this is pretty amazing and just misses a perfect rating.

14 yr store pick from GCM Liquor in Gilbert AZ (review for my notes and quite possibly useless to anyone outside the AZ area) Aroma is absolutely divine with cherry, caramel, vanilla, and sweet oak. It doesn’t have much else going on and quite frankly it doesn’t need to; sometimes classic bourbon notes in perfect harmony is enough. Ethanol nice and low. Palate offers more classic notes in the form of black cherry, caramel flan, vanilla custard, burnt sugar, walnut, and barrel char. Flavors are bold and balanced. Finish is a slow morph into cocoa nibs, cherry cola, red hots, and some of the sweetest, softest, oak to ever grace my lips. Lingers for what seems like forever. Mouthfeel on the thicker side of medium bodied and very oily. There is a sharpness to it which is the minorist of flaws. Absolutely fantastic. I believe I paid $80 for this and given the increasing unicorn nature of these 14-15 yr KC picks (this was bottled in 2019 and somehow I found it in 2022) I regret absolutely nothing. Liquid gold. If you ever find a KC pick of this age somehow floating around out there in the ether, do not hesitate to snatch it up.

This is one I've had before in the wide release, 9 year 120 proof. The store picks I've always flirted with but in the end went with rye instead of bourbon. They went from $50 to $60 to $70 in three years. This is great whisky, but far too much of an increase. I love Knob Creek, but when the 12 went from $60 to $72 in my neck of the woods, that eliminated Knob 12 as an option, especially when ECBP is $75 or LCBP is $65. Both better. So, I saw that the Circle Liquor Single Barrel Knob was $49 and went with it. This is a caramel bomb. Dulce de leche through and through on the nose and palate. Vanilla, too. And then the finish is a little tobacco leaf. A little oak. That's it. Not amazingly complex, but the intensity of flavor make purchasing this worth it. It's the best single barrel store pick I've had. End of story. Shit, that's my shortest review ever. Followers know I'm long-winded. I've twice had douchbags give me the too long didn't read response. But know what, fuck you. This is a review site for you. Whisky diary for me. This is my space. A whisky book. And I'm keeping to that.

Uncorked pick, "Gallenstein Selection #44" Warehouse 1; Floor 6; Rick 61 Barrel filled - 02-20-2014 Bottling date - 11-16-2023 Age - 9 years, 8 months, 27 days Open 3 months Nose - Rich brown sugar, toasted vanilla bean, sweet oak, orange, allspice, and medium ethanol. Palate - Sweet, oily oak, brown sugar, cinnamon coffee cake, chocolate orange, rye bread, and white pepper. Finish is long with peppercorn mix, musty grain, sweet oak, cinnamon sugar, slightly dry rye spices or oak tannins, cocoa powder, and medium ethanol. I lied. I said I was done with these Knob Creek picks a short while ago. But one of the store employees who helps with a lot of the picks said this was significantly better than their previous two KC SiBs that were still available. He was right. This is an excellent pick that reminds me of much older Knob Creeks. I'm tempted to bump it up to 4.5 stars, but it isn't overly complex. It's just a damn good representation of bourbon for a great price.

Knob Creek Single Barrel Select (Kroger Wine & Spirits Pick). 120 Proof. Barreled 11/10/2011, selected 6/24/2022. Warehouse Z, floor 4, rick 22. Color - Tawny. Nose - Marshmallow and roasted nuts. Maple syrup. Faint dark chocolate. Palate - Peanuts and caramel. This one drinks hot, and takes some effort to pull out some of the flavors. Some astringency. Dark chocolate. Smoky leather maybe as well? Finish - Medium finish. Dark chocolate and nutty flavors linger. Overall - I've been sipping this bottle for the last 9 months. It's a chewy and thick bourbon. I think this one lacks complexity in the palate for me to really appreciate it and score it better. The nose is interesting, and the finish is just fine, but I'm not tasting a lot beyond three or four of the more traditional notes that Jim Beam/Knob Creek bourbon is known for.

Pick named "Boomin' Nova" from Cassanova liquor in Hudson, Wisconsin. This one is 9 years and 2 months old. Nose is awesome. Oak, caramel sundae and graham cracker dominate. Palate is very refined for a 120 proof bourbon. This pick is much sweeter than I was expecting. Knob Creek can be really good within a wide range of years but they can be really sweet and desert-like when it's a little younger. Flavors are just simple but bold with Oak leading the way. There is some cherry, simple syrup, carmel, toffee, brown sugar and nougat. Finish is a little fleeting, but it gives you a little leather and oak with a little maple syrup. My chest is getting a great warmth from it but you'd never ever guess from the palate that this is 120 proof whiskey. Really great bottle!!!