Knob Creek Single Barrel Review

Distillery: Jim Beam

Proof: 120

Age: 9 years

Mashbill: 77% Corn, 13% Rye, 10% Malted Barley

Price: ~$55

---

Company

Since 1795, seven generations of the Beam family have been involved in making whiskey. Along with the iconic Jim Beam line, the distillery is also responsible for brands like Knob Creek, Baker’s, Basil Hayden’s, and Bookers.

Production

According to Beam, all batches are aged in “maximum char” barrels to get as much sweetness out of the oak as possible. The 9 Year statement was removed in 2016 and then added back in 2020.

Knob Creek Single Barrel Review: Tasting Notes

Nose – 4/5

Hot and oak forward with vanilla, brown sugar, and a touch of both caramel and apple. Very lively, the proof makes it seem like it’ll be a wild child.

Palate – 4.25/5

Hot but wayyyy less hot than the nose suggests. But it’s still hot…definitely not for a beginner. There’s an initial oak and char that fades into maple syrup, vanilla, and brown sugar. The mouthfeel is generally creamy and buttery and there’s just a hint of smoke.

Overall, it has a rich and robust flavor. Knob Creek Small Batch on steroids.

Finish – 4.25/5

Smoky oak with leather. Notes of brown sugar and caramel also linger. This is a long and hot finish. The heat gives you that lingering flavor and tongue numbness, which is a great experience. It toes the line of being too hot.

Value – 4.5/5

You can’t do much better than Knob Creek Single Barrel for $55. If you can handle a hot bourbon, this is a fantastic pour. It’s sweet and rich, and can stand toe-to-toe with $100 bourbons all day long.

It’s easily the best value bourbon on the Knob Creek lineup.

Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve Review: The Verdict

4.25/5

---

We score each bourbon based on nose, palate, finish, and value.

Scoring System:

• Platinum – 4.25 – 5
• Gold – 3.25 – 4.24
• Silver – 2.75 – 3.24
• Bronze – <2.75