Hannah’s Knob Creek SiB ID Select Bourbon 2 Review
Original review written June 8, 2021
GENERAL DESCRIPTION:
If you like wood, earth, and spice, this bourbon would be right up your alley. Strong in alcohol boldness ad with a really great blend, this 2nd store pick provides originality in spades. 88/100
VITALS:
– Made In: Clermont, Kentucky, USA
– Distiller: Jim Beam Distillery
– Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey; Private Select; Single Barrel
– Age: 15 yrs.
– Vintage Year: March 25, 2004
– Mash Bill: Corn=75%; Rye=13%; Malted Barley=12%
– Casks: Char #4
– Cask Number: 7997c
– Warehouse X, Floor 4, Rack 28, Tier 2
– Barrel Entry Proof: 125
– ABV: 60% (120 proof)
– Price: $59.95 USD in Idaho
Visit knobcreek.com/single-barrel 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 of this bourbon here!
SETTING:
I imagine drinking this one on a blustery coast, perhaps perched on the edge of a cliff. The smell of seawater and confused winds attack the senses while this bourbon keeps you warm and grounded in its woody and earthiness. (I realize there are no coasts in Idaho for this Idaho Private Select, but go with me here.) The world is fresh and alive, and this bourbon is both familiar yet exciting in this landscape.
Photo by Maddie Leopardo on Unsplash
NOSE:
This smells very much like a strong, yet sweet wine on the first shallow pass, but deeper draws coax out raspberries, raisins, black pepper and ginger. It’s amazing I got a wine essence at all, quite honestly. There’s a deep leather, dark brown sugar, and perhaps a bit of cinnamon. These are certainly very strong flavors, but the corn evens it out just enough to make everything come off as predominantly rich and sweet. I find a bit of syrupy sweetness also, but I can’t quite say whether it is caramel or maybe maple. There may even be some milk chocolate chips too.
The alcohol is quite strong on this one certainly, aided and fueled by the black pepper. However, I wouldn’t say that it is hot enough to burn. It stings at just about the level I’d expect a bourbon of 120 proof to sting.
PALATE:
– Mouth Feel: Raspy and very textured. I think it’s the most entertaining aspect of this bourbon.
– Balance: REALLY blended. Every flavor melds together perfectly, and certainly makes for a very uniform taste and profile.
– Visual: Flame in color, there is no crown and there are very few, thin, fasting-dropping legs.
– Taste: A gritty oak crosses the palate first, with a bit of the black pepper and ginger from the nose and certainly a lot of unexpected earth. For fruit, I get a dark stone fruit, like prunes or plum. I think the raisin from the nose is still here also, but the berries seem to have vanished. There is a bitterness to found here, maybe in the form of hazelnuts or very aged leather. The corn is here in almost a grilled sense and may be contributing to the bitterness while still being simultaneously fresh. There could even be a dried grass/straw here too.
The alcohol pops on every sip, but not in a way that makes you too scared of it. It is most definitely hot and it influences the mouth feel a lot, but it is a far cry from the hottest bourbon I’ve ever had. I can let it sit on my tongue for a good while, allowing the hazelnuts, oak and earth to come forward even more. When I partake in a Kentucky chew, the heat grows exponentially and excites the black pepper and ginger. Other than that, it stays true and tastes much like a burning version of itself.
FINISH:
– Lasting Power: Long. I’d say the heat is what lingers the most after the sip is gone with some spicy flavors.
– Between Sips: The black pepper is prominent here between sips, along with the ginger. There is also an herbal flavor that I can’t quite put my finger on, but it is certainly savory.
– No More: This stays consistent the further into the glass I get, but the woodiness only becomes more apparent. I will say I was hoping for some fruit to pop in more strongly, but the warmth, corn, and spice carry this bourbon straight to the happy finish line regardless.
The empty Glencairn is oak and sawdust and all things rich and warm with a hint of spice.
WORTH THE PRICE?
For $60, and something that is 120 proof, I’d be hard-pressed to say it’s not worth the expense. While it may not be the traditional profile that I go for, if I am in a woody, spicy, bitter mood, this could easily be a go-to, and I’d be happy. Knob Creek single barrels are often good, and this one is no exception.
As this particular bottling likely isn’t found on the shelves anymore, however, it’d be difficult to promote this to the fullest. Despite this, I will say that if your state has offerings of Single Barrel Knob Creeks you certainly should give them a try! Store picks are great ways to get to know your state liquor handlers, as it were. Furthermore, they are opportunities to really get to know the personal tastes and unique varieties that can come from distilleries!
KNOB CREEK SIB ID SELECT BOURBON 2 REVIEW RATING: 88/100
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