Brian’s Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve Review
written on 28-April-2019
KNOB CREEK SINGLE BARREL RESERVE REVIEW:
Knob Creek is an entry level offering in Jim Beam’s Small Batch Collection. This Single Barrel Reserve is hot, intoxicating and with not much of a detectable flavour profile. Water does tame the beast, however it washes out any subtleties as well. While not a “bad” bourbon, KC SiBR left me wondering … Does this nine year single barrel offering really have family ties to the likes of Bookers?
KNOB CREEK SINGLE BARREL RESERVE VITAL STATS:
– Category: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
– Region: Clermont, KY, USA
– Distillery: Jim Beam
– Mashbill: 77% Corn, 13% Rye, 10% Malted Barley
– Cask: New charred oak
– Barrel Char: #4
– Barrel entry proof: 125
– Age: 9 years old
– ABV: 60 (120 Proof)
– Price: $39.95 USD in Idaho
Note: This bottle had no label markings distinguishing from which barrel it was drawn.
ENJOYMENT METHOD:
I drank this spirit neat, from a Glencairn glass. In later tastings several drops of distilled water were added hoping to coax out its flavors. Other than taming the heat, no change in the initial profile was noted.
NOSE:
On the nose, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve (KC SiBR) is dry and alcohol forward with plenty of intense ethanol heat. A subtle simple syrup sweetness is there, but it is hard to coax from the dram with normal nosing.
PALATE:
The first and subsequent sips of KC SiBR are strong with plenty of throat burn. It is harsh, fiery and hot. After each swallow, dry flavors of dusty corn and figs can be sensed but only deep in the throat. Its spices of clove, white pepper and rye overpower burnt sugar and toffee sweetness and barely give way to any barrel flavor.
Balance, Body, Look and Feel:
I look forward to nuances when enjoying fine bourbon KC SiBR is so well blended, few individual flavors can be identified. I find this disapointing. KC SiBR is thin and watery, displaying medium legs which drop back in the Glencairn’s mahogany and henna tinted pool.
FINISH:
Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve’s medium long finish leaves one with a deep throat and chest warming sensation. When the last dram is gone, only a faint light oak aftertaste remains.
MY RATING: 83/100
Will I seek out this whiskey in the future? No
Click to read Brian’s scoring process.
To access other whiskies from this brand, click Knob Creek.
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