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It is named after the Kentucky area where Abraham Lincoln grew up, and it is alleged that the creek nearly killed him while he was swimming. The General Wine Company sources wines from all over the world, but with a particular focus on small, independent producers. We combined our widely praised Neat Glass with one of our 3oz Flight Bottles and housed them together in a custom EVA travel case. It comes to us at 100 proof (50% ABV), so: not a scorcher, but it’s got noticeably more “oomph” than something in the low-80s. Not dominant but recognizable is the vanilla, followed by a fresh fruity note that delights the palate.Part of the Jim Beam family, Knob Creek hearkens back to the day when all bourbon was small batch, and is made in pretty much the same way. There are notes of candy floss and nut oil, a touch of spice and dark chocolate, a little spice and charred oak. And we finish by meticulously aging our whiskey in white oak barrels with maximum char, for an unmistakable richness and signature sweetness. Even when first encountering the aroma you’ll get that mix of spice and sweetness, with granary toast melding with toasty oak and a spicy touch of rye. Knob Creek Small Batch Bourbon has been a mainstay of the Jim Beam family of Small Batch bourbons since the early 1990’s.

I know I didn’t put this in the review, but I had a chance to sample a NAS Knob Creek Small Batch from 2018 and I could barely find any difference between the two. Nor would I describe myself as anything of a Knob Creek fanboy; it misses the mark on occasion, at least for my palate. Copper to medium amber in colour, it is a bold balance of deep, pre-Prohibition-style bourbon with a robust oak taste, complemented with hints of smooth vanilla and layered caramel.being a novice taster my first goal starting out was to be consistent so I only taste and compare when I know I am in the mood for a drink.

It is aged near the center of the rackhouse due to the warmer temperatures there, which also help to produce a higher quality bourbon. However, novices should know that a distillery’s most commonly available (and/or cheapest) expression is seldom one of their best. Maker’s Mark’s claim to fame is that they distill their bourbon to the lowest proof in the whole of the US. I recently compared it twice with an earlier favorite, Four Roses Single Barrel, and both times I found Knob Creek 9 year small batch 100 proof bourbon to be clearly superior. The result is an undeniably big, full flavor that strikes your senses with a maple sugar aroma, distinctive sweetness and a rich, woody, caramel flavor.Spicy and sweet on the nose, the flavour is vivacious, starting out sweet and nutty with caramel, oak and dark chocolate. Heaven Hill took the 12 year age statement off of Elijah Craig Small Batch in 2016 and outright killed off Heaven Hill 6 Year Old Bottled in Bond. In the mouth: Very lean and firm to begin, with a pert kiss of limestone and some intense floral notes, reminiscent of rosewater or perfume.