Brian’s Knob Creek Single Barrel ISLD Select Bourbon 2 Review
reviewed 08-June-2020
BACK STORY:
In early 2019, representatives from Idaho State Liquor Division (ISLD) and bartenders from several Idaho bars visited the Knob Creek Distillery in Clermont, KY to select barrels for exclusive distribution to Idaho whiskey patrons and connoisseurs. During the Private Barrel Selection event three additional bourbons and two ryes were chosen. This iteration was selected by ISLD Deputy Director, Procurement and Distribution, Ray Homen.
KNOB CREEK SINGLE BARREL ISLD SELECT BOURBON 2 REVIEW SUMMARY:
Knob Creek Single Barrel ISLD Select Bourbon 2 (KC SiB ISLD Slct Bourbon #2) is another bottle hidden in the back of our bunker. This whiskey has an amazing nose with plenty of heat and spice to entertain the palate and a long warm finish. While I am certain this bottle is no longer available for sale in stores, it serves as another reason to justify a purchase when a Knob Creek store pick whiskey is found in your store, don’t hesitate to take it home.
KNOB CREEK SINGLE BARREL ISLD SELECT BOURBON 2 VITAL STATS:
– Category: Private Barrel Select Bourbon, Selected by Idaho State Liquor Division staff
– Region: Clermont, KY
– Distillery: Knob Creek
– Country: United States
– Mash Bill: 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley
– Barrel Char: #4
– Barrel entry proof: 125
– Barcode (Scan): 080686192367
– Cask Type: New American White Oak
– Cask Number: 7997c
– Warehouse X, Floor 4, Rack 28, Tier 2
– Vintage Year: 25-March-2004
– Age: 15 Years
– ABV: 60% (120 Proof)
– Price: $59.95 USD (2020 – Idaho)
Learn more at Knob Creek Single Barrel Experience.
ENJOYMENT METHOD:
For the evaluation, I shared the whiskey neat from Glencairn glasses with my daughter and fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer Hannah.
Check out her review for this bourbon here!
KNOB CREEK SINGLE BARREL ISLD SELECT BOURBON 2 NOSE:
KC SiB ISLD Slct Bourbon 2 has an amazing nose. But be forewarned, heavy draws can give an aggressive ethanol nip. With cautious nosing I can pull sherry and light fruit tree blossoms mixed in roasted corn and dusty grain. There’s also some red berry nectar and tart caramel apple topped with spices of cinnamon, ginger, pepper and savory rye, all of which are backed by the aroma of gingerbread and the sensation of hot cinnamon-apple compote. Additional sweetness comes in as vanilla custard, simple syrup, and caramelized sugar but they are not strong. I also get a hint of peanut, sweet fresh cut oak, scents of smoky toasted wood and a touch of old worn leather.
KNOB CREEK SINGLE BARREL ISLD SELECT BOURBON 2 PALATE:
KC SiB ISLD Slct Bourbon 2 doesn’t quite taste like it smells. However, I attribute this to the masking prickly ethanol burn I get in each sip. I do pick up a bit of an herbal aftertaste, but it’s more like faint drying corn and dusty grain. There is an exotic fruit leather component as well – like crushed currant, plum and fig. Spices of cinnamon, candied ginger, pepper and rye dominate while as on the nose, sweets of light vanilla, simple syrup, and caramelized sugar are less pronounced. And as each sip lingers, there is plenty of spicy dry old oak and flavors of sweet and smoky toasted wood.
Balance, Body, Feel and Look:
KC SiB ISLD Slct Bourbon 2 is well blended and because of the continuous prickly heat, a bit challenging to pick out individual flavors. Still, this bourbon is viscous and creamy the longer it is held. In the Glencairn, each sip releases quick falling legs which guide the remaining liquid back to the mahogany colored pool. What is left behind is a full ring with only a few irregularly spaced droplets clinging to an inverted crown.
KNOB CREEK SINGLE BARREL ISLD SELECT BOURBON 2 FINISH:
KC SiB ISLD Slct Bourbon 2 has a long warm finish which passes many of the well blended flavors over the palate and into the throat. I sense sherry and the herbalness of dusty grain along with exotic dark fruit leather. But spices of cinnamon, candied ginger and pepper shine through making this an almost savory bourbon. As on the nose and palate, there’s little sweetness; maybe a scant trace of woody caramel. This is not a wood forward whiskey and what is there lingers as light and dry smoky sweet toasted oak. And when the last dram is downed, the memory of soft and dry oak sawdust wafts from the empty Glencairn.
MY RATING: 90/100
Will I buy this whiskey again? YES
While I am certain this bottle is no longer available for sale in stores, it serves as another reason to justify a Knob Creek Store Pick purchase.
Click to read Brian’s scoring process.
Click 90/100 to access other whiskies with this score.
To access other whiskies from this brand, click Knob Creek.
WHISKEY TRAITS, FLAVOR NOTES AND PROFILE GRAPH:
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