Distillery: Jim Beam
Proof: 100
Age: 12 years
Mashbill: 77% Corn, 13% Rye, 10% Malted Barley
Price: $90-$100
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
Knob Creek 12 Year was initially a limited edition bourbon when it was released in 2019, but now it’s considered part of the standard lineup (even though it’s difficult to find). This small batch bourbon is basically Knob Creek 9 Year on steroids.
Nose – 97/100
Deep, rich, and creamy vanilla with caramel and a touch of coffee.
Palate – 99/100
This is a vanilla bomb. It’s creamy and rich while not being too hot for a 100 proof. Along with vanilla, there are feint hints of marshmallow and citrus.
Finish – 95/100
The vanilla carries through to the finish to provide a sweet finish with hints of pepper and lingering oak. It’s a bit shorter than I expected, but still pleasant nonetheless.
Value – 95/100
I spent $100 on my bottle. Initially, I wasn’t sure how I thought about that. I could’ve bought a lot of different things. But when I tried it…lawd have mercy. I have no issue paying $100 for this again if I can find it.
In today’s world of bourbon, I think $90-$100 is a pretty fair price point. Its MSRP is about $60, but what the heck does that even mean these days?
Verdict – 96.5/100
We score each bourbon based on nose, palate, finish, and value.
Scoring System:
- Platinum – 95+
- Gold – 90 – 94
- Silver – 80 – 89
- Bronze – <80
Hunter Branch is the Founder and Director of Editorial for Bourbon Inspector. He has been writing about and professionally reviewing bourbon since 2020 (and has been drinking it for much longer). He’s been able to interview big names in the bourbon industry like Trey Zoeller from Jefferson’s Bourbon and his work has been featured in publications like TastingTable, Mashed, and more.