Knob Creek 25th Anniversary
Thanks to my friend Ryan for a picture of his bottle - different from the one I tried but representative of the bottling (and just as delicious!)
Booker Noe, 6th generation Master Distiller at Jim Beam, left numerous legacies in his wake. A namesake bourbon (Booker’s), the term ‘small batch’ and the Small Batch Collection, a continued family tradition of distilling, and more than I could go into in just one note. Knob Creek is one of those legacies. Introduced in 1992, Knob Creek was a “super-premium, small batch” bourbon, made to be an accessible step-up from the other Small Batch products like Basil Hayden’s.
For the 25th anniversary of this special bourbon, Fred Noe - Booker’s son and the 7th generation - chose special barrels between 12-13 years old and barreled at barrel proof (a small difference in this case, though ‘regular’ Knob Creek bourbon is bottled at 100º or 120º). The release is also unfiltered, though it’s unclear whether that means unfiltered for particulates or non-chill filtered.
Although just a few proof points separate this release from the regular 120º Knob Creek, there is a sense that there’s more than just those 1-3 proof points difference. For one, the oak is stronger than in the mass market Knob Creek 12 Year Old (what I thought to be the most apt comparison), and the cinnamon is a bit more prominent. There’s no info given about where the barrels come from, but I’m guessing from the slightly higher areas of the rickhouses - floors 4-6 in a 7-story one, for instance. It’s not hot enough or oaky enough to make me think there’s any 7th-floor juice in there (at 12-13 years, that would likely be oak syrup anyway), but enough spicy oak that I don’t think it’s 1st-floor, either.
So, the big question: does this live up to Booker’s name? I think so. My final score aside, I enjoyed this more than I think the notes describe. It’s more intense, as expected in a single barrel, sacrificing overall balance for that je ne sais quoi single barrels offer - that deviation from the mean that’s still within character. Taking it further into Beam territory, this is clearly not a Booker’s batch, nor is it meant to be, but it’s also different enough from the standard Knob Creek to make it interesting.
I’ve tasted through a few different single barrels, and none were bad (with a few true standouts along the way). Bottom line is this: if you’re a Knob Creek fan and find this at or near MSRP, it’s a must-buy. Don’t yell at me if you get one of the just-ok barrels, though. If you’re a Beam fan generally, I’d call this a must-try, then a must-buy if you like it. With the now-completed phase-out of older Knob Creek single barrel picks (no new picks are above 9+ years old) in favor of a consistent, batched 12- and 15-year-old expression, this offers a middle ground that’s tasty if twice the price. As one of the few one-offs to not appreciate significantly on the secondary market, the Knob Creek 25th Anniversary Single Barrel bottlings are worth a shot. At worst, you get a cool bottle and a cool story.
Knob Creek 25th Anniversary: Specs
Classification: Bourbon
Origin: Jim Beam Distillery
Mashbill: 75% Corn, 13% Rye, 12% Malted Barley
Proof: 121.9 (60.95% ABV)
Age: NAS (12-13 Years Old as per press release)
Location: Kentucky
Knob Creek 25th Anniversary Price: $130
Knob Creek 25th Anniversary Review: Tasting Notes
Eye: Maple syrup. Thin rims, very slow and thin syrupy legs.
Nose: Roasted PB&J with mulling spices. Oaky. Nose remains hot even with air. Berry jam opens up.
Palate: Oaky and dry up front, tingles my entire tongue. Tingle sticks around throughout the sips. Light, pleasant roasted notes. Vanilla baked goods. Mouthwatering oak and cinnamon. Mouthfeel is a little thinner than desired/expected, but the tingle is great.
Finish: All cinnamon with an oaky backdrop.
Overall: Hallmarks of being over-baked - the jammy fruity notes open up after air. A solid KC if oakier than I’d like. The cinnamon is great, but I’d rather buy a pick or a Booker’s for the same price and a more balanced profile.
Final Rating: 6.0
10 | Insurpassable | Nothing Else Comes Close (Blanton’s Straight from the Barrel)
9 | Incredible | Extraordinary (GTS, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B518 and B520)
8 | Excellent | Exceptional (12+YO MGP Bourbon, Highland Park Single Barrels)
7 | Great | Well above average (Blanton’s Original, Old Weller Antique, Booker’s)
6 | Very Good | Better than average (Four Roses Small Batch Select, Knob Creek 14+ YO Picks)
5 | Good | Good, solid, ordinary (Elijah Craig Small Batch, Buffalo Trace, Old Grand-Dad Bottled-in-Bond)
4 | Sub-par | Many things I’d rather have (A.D. Laws Four Grain, Compass Box “Oak Cross”)
3 | Bad | Flawed (Iron Smoke Bourbon, Balcones)
2 | Poor | Forced myself to drink it (Buckshee Bourbon and Rye)
1 | Disgusting | Drain pour (Virginia Distilling Co. Cider Cask)
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