There's no faking full bourbon flavor. It has to be earned. So that's what Knob Creek® does in Clermont: They earn it. They start by selecting the finest grains. And finish by meticulously aging their whiskey in white oak barrels with maximum char for an unmistakable richness and signature sweetness. It's the natural way. And there's just no cheating nature.
From Brian Schmidt, Topflight Series Panel Member:
We've had several selections that are unique in how they develop or particularly dynamic in one flavor profile or another. Some of you may have seen special barrel finishes that create non-traditional flavor notes and smooth edges of the cask-strength whiskey inside. This pour from Knob Creek is not one of those barrel picks. It's just damn good bourbon. Aged 9.5 years on the fifth floor of Warehouse K, all single barrels from Knob Creek are bottled at 120 proof. For this barrel, that means it came down about 10pts from the 131.8 it was first sampled at but still maintains a proof higher than other cask strength selections we've made, plus it's full of flavor.
On the nose, this is a classic bourbon (and Knob Creek bourbon at that) with notes of caramel, vanilla, oak, and an added faint stone fruit sweetness. This evolves to add chocolate and a little citrus as the glass sits. The first taste gives a buttery caramel with a light sweetness and flows into a nice smoke and oak medium-length finish. As I return to the glass, I find new things with each pour — an earthy nuttiness, cherry, and baking spices — but mostly, I get a really outstanding bourbon. This was a short barrel yielding just 72 bottles which is always challenging for us when it comes to allocated products. Still, I find it leads to some of the best bourbons I've tasted. Don't miss this bottle. Because when it's gone, it's gone for good.
TOPFLIGHT: Series 1, Barrel No. 15
PROOF: 120.0
AGE: 10 Year
