Hannah’s Knob Creek SiB ID Select Bourbon 1 Review
Original review written May 7, 2020
GENERAL DESCRIPTION:
I got the chance to experience Barrel No. 1 at an actual tasting, and it does not disappoint. So beyond pleased and impressed with this aged, quality, and effortless pour. 96/100
VITALS:
– Made In: Clermont, KY, USA
– Distiller: Jim Beam Distillery
– Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey; Single Barrel; Private Select
– Age: 15 yrs.
– Vintage Yr: February 25, 2004
– Mash Bill: Corn=75%; Rye=13%; Malted Barley=12%
– Casks: Char #4
– Barrel Entry Proof: 125
– ABV: 60% (120 proof)
– Cask: #7995a
– Warehouse: X
– Floor: 3
– Rack: 20
– Tier: 3
– Barrel Selector: Rick Baltadonis, Product Manager of Idaho State Liquor Division
– Price: $59.95 USD in Idaho
Visit knobcreek.com/single-barrel for more information
ENJOYMENT METHOD:
I enjoyed the juice neat from a Glencairn glass with father and fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer, Brian.
Check out his review for this bourbon here!
SETTING:
This bourbon screams for company, standing in the hustle and bustle of a square at Christmas time at night. The air is brisk; lights are strung from tree to tree, lamppost to lamppost with stands of roasted chestnuts and hot chocolate everywhere. People go about their lives, shopping bags hitched on elbows and shoulders, a carol on their lips. This bourbon will keep you warm amongst the crowd, making you smile and feel thankful for life’s complexity and overwhelmed with the recognition of humanity’s goodness.
Photo by Алсу Ягудина on Unsplash
NOSE:
Of course I’ll say more, but I MUST start with: This smells G-O-O-D, so much so that even the first draw has me salivating. Warm floral notes and dried fruits cover the nose and aren’t swallowed by the high ABV. Fruits include prunes, raisins and cherries, backed by allspice, white pepper and the barest hint of clove, which makes for a small, earthy element.
I can also find gingerbread cookies, dark vanilla custard and a burnt caramel/molasses mixture that adds to the richness. There’s a twinge of bitterness also, perhaps walnuts, that balances out the sweetness nicely. Not to mention the buttery oak that magically pairs with milk chocolate fudge squares to make for a fascinating base.
Though sugary sweetness abounds, there’s enough other elements that persuasively invite me to take a sip.
PALATE:
– Mouth Feel: Viscous and still rough and zingy – quite impressive.
– Balance: So many flavors that combine cohesively into one warm juice.
– Visual: Burnt amber in color, there are clinging droplets and thin legs that drop from a defined crown.
– Taste: Sharp orange citrus zest and alcohol pierce the veil on the first sip, creating instantaneous lift that seems contrary to the deep, dark richness of the nose. But don’t think for a second that that darkness has left the building, with cinnamon, black pepper and cloves mixing with dusty grain and wine tannins at the back of the sip.
Ripe grapes and raisins are the dominating fruits, but there are some pitted cherries too. Still, the tone of this seems resonant and earthy to me, with sprigs of thyme or rosemary that simultaneously lift and ground me.
Overall, this almost reminds me of having a warm port wine with an orange peel and cinnamon stick stirred in. The alcohol is zingy – not overbearing – and has so much texture, I feel as though I could somehow snuggle right in.
Wood is still here too, being old and spicy with a warm feeling. A Kentucky chew pulls intense piney freshness, chased away by fermented cherries. Regardless, it leaves me salivating and my tongue tingling minutes after putting the Glencairn down.
FINISH:
– Lasting Power: Very long. The zing of this one hangs around and continues to provide an incessant warmth in the throat and upper chest region.
– Between Sips: Orange zest, cinnamon and apple mingle with sawdust between sips. As delectable as this pause is… I want another sip, please.
– No More: As I get further into the glass, I sense another fruit, tart and bursting with flavor on every sip, almost as if it is its own flavor explosion, but it’s tricky to identify. … If you look at our Whiskey Wheel, you would be hard-pressed to find a flavor that isn’t detectable in some concentration in this bourbon. The balance still manages to remain impeccable, regardless.
The empty Glencairn is filled with caramel, black pepper and oak. Though the caramel is new to me, the pour wasn’t missing anything without it. This was an amazing pour, start to finish, and I’m already looking forward to my next dram.
WORTH THE PRICE?
Absolutely. If you like a bit of heat and are a balance-junkie, this bourbon is for you. As it’s only a single barrel (and a private select at that), I understand it may be tricky to find. But if you ever find a bottle that seems to have come from a barrel that was close to ours in the warehouse, snatch it up! You won’t be disappointed!
KNOB CREEK SIB ID SELECT BOURBON 1 REVIEW RATING: 96/100
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