Knob Creek 9 Year
Knob Creek 9 Year old is another bottle which I’m sure everyone has at least heard of, if not tasted. Known as an entry level bottle to the Jim Beam’s Small Batch Batch Collection it brings a healthy 100 proof to the table. They have certainly stepped up their packaging game in recent years, with the older bottles being more purely rectangular-shaped and the new bottles having a little bit fancier label and an-easier-to-carry contoured bottle shape that almost acts like hand grips. Even the black wax seal has gotten less brittle, no longer creating a mess when you crack it open. However, they still use the absolute worst non-screw-top bottle topper on the planet, what I dub the Finger/Palm Death Trap. Every-so-tight to get in the neck, creating a wonderful seal, but with the plastic grip being oh-so small, you are bound to get a finger or some of your meaty palm wedged in there upon re-sealing. But I digress….
ABV: 50%
How it smells….oak and vanilla with some cherry, caramel and honey. Some of that dry rye haystacks and floral notes on the deep inhale.
How it tastes….sweet with caramel and honey at the onset, followed by baking spices and a touch of cayenne heat. The end is nutty with some more caramel and honey and an oaky vanilla finish.
Price…$35 (I paid $37) but the old NAS bottles can be found for < $30
Rating….🥃🥃🥃🥃🥃
Final thoughts….Knob Creek continues to be a great little sip that is also affordable. Not a great little affordable sip, as I believe there is a distinct difference. Like how I feel about some of the entry level Buffalo Trace releases and the Old Forester’s 100 proof gem, this is a quintessential example of how a bourbon should taste at its core. You get sweet, you get spices, and you get enough oak to add some gravitas. No part of the triumvirate dominates, but they all work wonderfully in concert. Plus you get a 100 proof sip. This was always one of my go-to favorites when traveling for work and I want to make sure those quick trips from the room to the hotel bar count just a bit more than a standard 90 or, gasp, 80 proof pour. A 5x 🥃 is a no-brainer.
