Day 14 of DB's Bourbon Trail 2023 Advent Calendar - Knob Creek - Barrel Select

Cheers and welcome to our 4th Annual Advent Calendar! Throughout the next month, we will be going on a high-end bourbon journey together and reviewing 25 bourbons from award winning distilleries across America. Starting on December 1st and ending on December 25th - we will get to experience everything from small batches to single barrels that are jam packed with flavor. Please join us in toasting to another incredible year and getting to virtually share some of our favorite bottles from this past year with you!

**This review has been completed by using a Glencairn glass and neat if you want to compare the same tasting notes as DB’s Bourbon Trail. BUT - the best thing about it being YOUR bourbon is that you get to enjoy it that way YOU want to and prefer! As long as it brings us together and you are enjoying it - pour it over ice, add water, or add it to a cocktail! It’s all about what makes you happy and what you enjoy - don’t let others influence you differently!**

Enough of me rambling, let’s dive into what brought us here!

Day 14 of DB’s Bourbon Trail 2023 Advent Calendar

Knob Creek - Single Barrel Select Bourbon (Gibby's Bottle Shop Barrel Select)

Proof:

• 120 Proof (60%)

Distillery:

• Jim Beam Distillery (Clermont, KY)

Message on the bottle:

 Not much other than the name and normal messaging is on the bottle.

Two things to take note of:

1. The name Fred Noe (7th Generation Master Distiller) [Fred Noe is Booker Noe's son. Booker is the grandson of Jim Beam - I think we all know who that is)

2. The Barrel date is on 10/16/2012 and was selected on 5/16/2022

Price Point:

**At DB’s Bourbon Trail we utilize an app called BoozApp (not sponsored - we wish!) to ensure we are getting at least a fair price on our bourbon before purchasing. Nothing is worse than getting taken advantage of by a flipper playing the supply/demand game**

• Average MSRP:

  • $54.99

• Fair Price:

  • $54.99

• Shelf Price:

  • $54.99

• DB’s Bourbon Trail Instant Buy Price:

  • <$54.99

Review:

I would think the majority of us have heard the name Knob Creek in the past. If you haven't, I wanted to make sure to pull a little information from their website since there wasn't much on the bottle.

When the very first bottle of Knob Creek was released, its mission was to restore whiskey to the way it was meant to be -- patiently aged and full-flavored. This commitment not only helped Knob Creek overturn all the softer, milder, whiskeys on the market, it was also a major step toward making the small-batch whiskey movement what it is today.

We don’t age our bourbon nine years and longer because we’re required to. We do it because the extra time and effort are well worth it. Under the care of seventh-generation distillers, minutes become days, the days become years and the years become bourbon. Refined enough to sip, yet strong enough to carry a cocktail. We call it Knob Creek.

The one thing I didn't know prior to this review is that all Knob Creek are aged at minimum 9 years. It definitely makes sense with their normal bottle having the 9 year age statement but just something I never put 2 and 2 together. This standard allows them always to deliver a very flavorful pour and I'm excited to dive into this year single barrel select from Gibby's!

Nose:

• Overall, the nose is very pleasant and full of flavor. Toffee, Cherry, and Oak

Palate:

• The palate is full of flavor. It has a buttery mouth feel with a toffee and brown sugar sweetness that pairs perfectly with the caramel notes. There is a nice spice that lingers into the finish with hints of nuts.

Finish:

• The finish of this pour takes you for a ride! Initially, a sweetness rides in from the palate - it reminds me of a sweet vanilla cream foam from Starbucks. Then comes the spice! It has such a peppery spice and it pairs well with the vanilla cream. There is still a hint of nuts that's rolling in from the palate.

Final Thoughts:

For some time now, I have always leaned toward Knob Creek out of all the bottles that come out of the Beam Distillery. When bottles are this good, it's hard not to! I think it's all around their commitment to being patient and allowing their bourbon to mature and age properly! Their 12 year has always been one of my favorites and go to's - but this bottle right here gave it's a run for its money this year!

There is just something about a bottle that can perfect the sweet and spice combo - and this pour really does it for me! This has a much more peppery spice than any bottle so far this year and allows this to stand out much more than all the others - I hope you all enjoy as much as we did!

Cheers y’all!

Interesting in what else we might have cooking? Learn more here!

Let's Connect!

• Have you ever had this pour?

• Thoughts on the review?

• Leave a comment below and share your experience - we would love to hear from you!