Knob Creek Straight Rye Review

Hannah’s Knob Creek Straight Rye Review

Original review written on March 2, 2021

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

This is incredibly light and fresh, dry fruit notes being apparent with warm, earthy tones. These provide the whiskey a well-textured balance, keeping me going back for the next sip. 91/100

VITALS:
Knob Creek Straight Rye Review

– Made In: Clermont, Kentucky, USA
– Distiller: Jim Beam Distillery
– Classification: Straight Rye Whiskey; Small Batch
– Age: nas
– Mash Bill: unpublished; at least 51% rye (internet consensus totals: Rye=55%; Corn=35%; Malted barley=10%
– Casks: Char #4
– Barrel Entry Proof: unpublished
– ABV: 50% (100 proof)
– Price: $29.95 USD in Idaho

Visit knobcreek.com for more information

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

I enjoyed the juice neat from a Glencairn with father and fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer, Brian.

Check out his review for this rye here!

SETTING:

Drink Knob Creek Rye outside (maybe even in the morning) on the deck or porch with the sun coming up and a newspaper in hand, taking in the new day. The lightness in the pour and sunshine moving across you feels refreshing, and the world smells as youthful and bright as the whiskey.

Photo by Toa Heftiba on Unsplash

NOSE:

Light wood and sweetness greet the nose on the first draw, being oaky and a bit like toffee. There is a nuttiness that I suppose is a little like macadamia, but it is hard to perfectly identify. I find a light earth component as well, perhaps like dewy grass or just warm soil. The alcohol is incredibly subtle here and not at all intimidating, but you still notice it just a little bit. I can get a some of ginger on deep inhales, but other than that, there really is not much spice to speak of. Overall, it smells inviting and a bit like a nut brittle candy.

PALATE:
Knob Creek Straight Rye Review

– Mouth Feel: There is an effervescence that reminds me of a riesling wine – dry, but with a tickle all the same.
– Balance: Everything blends really well, with every flavor being quite cohesive and fresh.
– Visual: Chestnut, Oloroso sherry in color, this has fast-dropping, but thick legs that descend from an uneven, but equally thick, crown.

– Taste: This tastes immediately fresh and vibrant. The nut is still there, but it isn’t overbearing and just sits with a pleasant, earthy warmth, with a bit of grass. Light fruit is here also, perhaps like a pear that is just the right level of ripeness. The oak is equally light with a sweet glaze of spice. This almost tastes white-wine-esque, with a pop of green grape, pear and a buttery-ness in body, but still maintaining a certain effervescence. The rye spice is here also, but it lifts the whole body and makes all of the aforementioned flavors explode that much more, I think.

A Kentucky Chew elevates the rye and makes it feel bigger, as well providing extra earth. It also makes the whiskey as a whole have a certain dryness to it, that again, harkens to the wine notes. The alcohol remains mild all throughout without stinging much at all. This rye, for being the first rye Whiskey for the Ages has reviewed, has certainly impressed me.

FINISH:

– Lasting Power: Medium. No warmth here, but the flavor does linger for a while. No complaints from me.
– Between Sips: I get the grapes and pear the most between sips, and I must say, it leaves me feeling very pleased.

– No More: This is so pleasantly consistent throughout the glass, I really am just impressed with the quality of this. The freshness seems just as fresh and bright as it did on the first sip.

The empty Glencairn has a sudden kick of rye spice that I wasn’t expecting, but it is still so sharp that it matches with the vibrancy of this rye. I must say, I’ve been in love with this pour start to finish, and I look forward already to my next.

WORTH THE PRICE?

At $30, this is almost what I would consider a steal, and you can certainly bet that this is something I will promote to having always on hand. Highly recommend giving it a try, even if you aren’t familiar with ryes.

RATING: 91/100

Click to see Hannah’s rating process

Click 91/100 to access other whiskies with this rating.
To access other whiskies from this brand, click Knob Creek.

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Knob Creek Straight Small Batch Rye

Brian’s Knob Creek Straight Rye Review:

02-March-2021

KNOB CREEK STRAIGHT RYE REVIEW:

Knob Creek Straight Rye is simply a nice whiskey. I’ll admit, it is the first rye to pass my lips and I’m happy to say, I’ll make a place for it on my shelf. While I cannot pickup or discern particular fruits or confections, there is a nice sweetness about this pour which balances the subtle woody elements.

KNOB CREEK STRAIGHT RYE VITAL STATS:
Knob Creek Straight Rye

Category: Small Batch Straight Rye Whiskey
Region: Clermont, KY,
Country: United States
Distillery: Knob Creek
Mash Bill: unpublished, at least 51% Rye (internet consensus totals ~ 55% rye, 35% corn, 10% malted barley)
Barrel Char: #4
Barrel entry proof: unpublished
Age: nas
ABV: 50% (100 Proof)
No batch or bottle number identifiers

Learn more at Knob Creek.

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

For the evaluation, this rye was enjoyed neat with my daughter and fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer Hannah.

Check out her review for this rye here!

KNOB CREEK RYE NOSE:

Knob Creek Straight Rye offers a dry warming nip, and a touch of burn with deep nosing. I also sense some light floral notes in a touch of sherry backed by a truckload of dry grain. In each waft there are faint notes of fresh tart apples, maraschino cherries and plump red raisins. Rye is front and center and presents as both a spice and yeasty bread. The nose is not sweet yet I do sense an underlying confection hiding in dry seasoned sawdust, hazy barrel spice and the char of toasted wood. This is a gentle and simple whiskey with nice notes of worn old leather.

KNOB CREEK RYE PALATE:

The first sip of Knob Creek Straight Rye is easy to hold and I find it dry and warm. As on the nose, I get light floral notes in sherry and herbal dusty grain. While for me the only fruit element I taste is the skin of pealed pears and they are a bit difficult to discern, but spices of cinnamon, warm ginger, pepper and rye assert themselves. Yet the only sweet I can pick up is of simple syrup which is just enough to balance the hint of hazelnuts. And like on the nose, dry sawdust, hazy toasted wood and old leather are in each mouthful.

Knob Creek Straight Rye

Balance, Body, Feel and Look:
Knob Creek Rye is well blended and an easy sipper. While not particularly full, this spirit is smooth and oily with a pleasant coppery feel when held. In the Glencairn, fast falling narrow channels return the liquid to the chestnut colored pool, leaving an irregularly formed inverted crown.

KNOB CREEK RYE FINISH:

Knob Creek Straight Rye has a short warm and dry gentle finish. Its herbal grain fades in and out as do the spices of pepper and rye. And like I sensed on the nose and palate, dry sawdust, toasted wood and old leather fade away after each sip. When the last dram is drained, the empty Glencairn smells of sweet light oak. This is an inviting rye.

MY RATING: 87/100

Will I buy this whiskey again? YES
At this price point it has a place in my bunker.
Click to read Brian’s scoring process.

Click 87/100 to access other whiskies with this score.
To access other whiskies from this brand, click Knob Creek.

KNOB CREEK STRAIGHT RYE TRAITS AND FLAVOR NOTES AND PROFILE GRAPH:
Knob Creek Straight Rye
Knob Creek Straight Rye

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