Brian’s Knob Creek SiB ID Select Bourbon 1 Review
07-May-2020
GENERAL DESCRIPTION:
Knob Creek SiB ID Select Bourbon 1 is an fine whiskey, one I happily place on my all time “Top 5 Pour” shelf. From the moment the stopper is pulled to the final waft of the empty Glencairn, it is pure joy in a glass. It checks all my boxes: a slightly sweet and earthy, high proof, oaky, unicorn bourbon, with big, bold flavors of chewy dark fruit and just a hint of toffee nuttiness. If a Select Barrel of Knob Creek is found in your store – buy, Buy, BUY!
KNOB CREEK SINGLE BARREL BOURBON, IDAHO BARREL #1 WHISKEY INFORMATION:
– Category: Private Barrel Select Bourbon
– (Selected by ISLD Product Manager Rick Baltadonis)
– Region: Clermont, KY
– Country: United States
– Distiller: Jim Beam
– Mash Bill: 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley
– Barrel Char: #4
– Barrel entry proof: 125
– Cask Type: New American White Oak
– Cask Number: 7995a
– Warehouse X, Floor 3, Rack 20, Tier 3
– Vintage Year: 25-February-2004
– Age: 15 Years
– ABV: 60% (120 Proof)
– Approx. Bottles Produced: 120
– Price: $59.95 USD
Learn more at https://www.knobcreek.com/single-barrel experience.
BACK STORY:
In early 2019, representatives from the Idaho State Liquor Division (ISLD) and several Idaho bars visited the Knob Creek Distillery in Clermont, KY for the purposes of selecting barrels for exclusive distribution to Idaho whiskey patrons and connoisseurs. This Knob Creek Single Barrel iteration was selected by Rick Baltadonis, ISLD Product Manager. During the Private Barrel Selection event three other bourbons and two ryes were chosen.
ENJOYMENT METHOD:
For the evaluation, I enjoyed the juice neat from Glencairn glasses with my daughter and fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer Hannah.
Check out her review for this bourbon here!
NOSE:
It’s not often the first sniff of bourbon brings so much wood. Greeted with the sawdust of freshly cut old lumber and the haziness of charred barrels, in peeks a bit of warm and fruited sherry wine accompanied by the faintest hint of roasted dusty corn. But oh the dark fruit: well blended sweet cherry, raisin, and prune fruit leather is boosted with fresh candied citrus zest. Then, faint spices of cinnamon and white pepper dance with bittersweet chocolate, circus peanut candy, woody caramel a mix of dark molasses and roasted hazelnut toffee. Fifteen years of aging add depth and a fine earthiness of musty old leather, which is pleasing to nose.
PALATE:
In a word, AMAZING! All the aromas come through in warm alcohol bliss. I couldn’t wait – on the second sip gave the juice a healthy Kentucky Chew. Assertive, but not enough to hurt, the strong sherry wine flavored blend makes me salivate. A new herbalness compliments the dark cherry, raisin, prune and citrus marmalade fruit leather as allspice, cinnamon and black pepper join the party. Not quite sweet, cocoa powder and cinnamon red hots mix with the woody caramel, dark molasses and roasted hazelnut toffee sensed on the nose as does the old lumber sawdust and hazy barrel char. And ever present is the deep earthiness of musty old leather.
Balance, Body, Feel and Look:
Knob Creek SiB ID Select Bourbon 1 is big, rich, viscous and oily, yet a bit rough and gritty. Well blended but still wood forward, its pleasant aftertaste of old fashioned cinnamon Dutch apple pie infused with raisins dried prunes fades slowly. In the Glencairn, a of curtain of liquid legs return to the dark, old oak colored pool.
FINISH:
The dram finishes exceptionally long. I continue to salivate as the aftertaste of fading wine, dark cherries mix with apple pie and raisins. Earthy and deep, its dark molasses fades into hazy wafts of aged leather. In the empty Glencairn, old oak lingers in memory of the dram.
MY RATING: 92/100
Will I seek out this whiskey in the future? Yes
Click to read Brian’s scoring process.
Click 92/100 to access other whiskies with this score.
To access other whiskies from this brand, click Knob Creek.
WHISKEY TRAITS AND FLAVOR NOTES AND PROFILE GRAPH:
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