Knob Creek Reviews

Knob Creek
Review by Toolman Dec 24th 2012

Color

Amber

Nose

Baking spices, Slightly sweet, slight burn

Body

Creamy, smooth

Palate

Spicy/sweet, slightly woody, warm, a little burn but not harsh

Finish

Medium. Warm finish. Woody.

I must admit I am partial to the warmth and spice of bourbon. This one is very good. Drink neat. Great place to visit too! (Meant to put this review under Woodford Reserve, please move)

Knob Creek
Review by Js1268 Dec 1st 2012

Color

caramel

Nose

I'm getting lots of vanilla!

Body

Full bodied

Palate

Doesn't overwhelm the Palette. Smooth, but has a bite due to alcohol.

Finish

Has a long finish. A bit hot because of alcohol and char.

Not too bad. Pretty good. My palette is pretty dull and that can be an advantage. It needs to be 'hit' with the proper elements. Having said that, I can pick up fuses of flavors that most might not. I can taste the charred oak, and it's a bit overwhelming. The caramel is lost on me, but not on the olfactory gland. So before it hits my tongue my nose gets a good dose of flavor. The alcohol is a bit intense. The vanilla makes an appearance in both the nose and tongue. Lots of boutique in this bourbon. But that makes it easy to sip. DO NOT drink this on rocks! It will ruin it. Neat is the way. It must be savored!

Knob Creek
Review by Anonymous Aug 14th 2012

Color

Beautiful amber, catches the light nicely

Nose

Great brown sugar and vanilla. Lots of barrel here. If you've ever been to a cooperage (I have) then you'll know exactly what this stuff smells and tastes like... A delicious charred oak barrel.

Body

Very nice. A flash of burn but followed up by one of the best bourbon after tastes on the market.

Palate

I'm not one that finds "cherry blossom" or "bark of a dogwood tree" when I taste bourbons. To me, a bourbon tastes like bourbon and some taste far Better than others. This just tastes exceptional. A little more tart and flavoroful than average, and it really comes out when mixed with a little coke the way I like it.

Finish

The finish is the winning part of this bourbon. Swallow, and close your eyes and enjoy as the flavor lingers there. Delicious. Whoever it was that said Jim Beam white or even JD were better, is either seriously an idiot or has no bourbon experience whatsoever. Jim Beam isnt good at all, and im surprised that This comes from the same distillery. Huge difference. There are few on par with Knob Creek IMO. The single barrel I bought last weekend is even more tasty and at 120 proof, somehow even smoother. I put this up there with the really good ones like Elmer T Lee Single Barrel, Eagle Rare, old Rip Van Winkle, etc. The only thing I would definately without a doubt take over Knob Creek these days is Pappy Van Winkle 15 year. But if you haven't tried Elmer T Lee, give that one a shot. Very good and light years ahead in flavor compared to a childish 4 year old like Jim Beam White lable.

Plenty of comments throughout my review. This is fabulous bourbon and if any of these other reviews convince you otherwise before trying it, then you have been done an injustice. Do yourself a favor. The single barrel is even better, unbelievably. Enjoy.

Knob Creek
Review by Anonymous Apr 28th 2012

Color

Dark amber

Nose

Good saddle leather and wood smoke

Body

Rich full body

Palate

Nutshells sweet bitter

Finish

Full long finish. Warm tingly burn

Makes a great manhattan

Knob Creek
Review by Jorkku Apr 26th 2012

Color

Nice brown, plenty of oak

Nose

Sweet honey, dark caramel, there's something big waiting there...

Body

Big syrup

Palate

Loads of sweet honey surrounds darker, even fruity taste. Some raisin, some plums etc. There could be more rye here, but nice in this way anyway!

Finish

Long and there strong alcohol bites just as needed. Flavor is so big that alcohol doesn't overpower. Great balance.

Knob Creek
Review by Artin Apr 18th 2012

Color

dark golden

Nose

smoke, vanilla

Body

really full bodied

Palate

honey, molasses, slight peat

Finish

long and very smooth, warm you up for sure

One of the best bourbons, period.

Knob Creek
Review by ChadDavis Jan 18th 2012

Color

Amber + 1. A nice bourbon color

Nose

Pears and brown sugar

Body

Thick and well aged, but not leggy.

Palate

Butter, salt water taffy, brown sugar. Citrus peel, the white, bitter part.

Finish

Nice burny-burn. Decently flavored. The finish is hot, but short lived.

Medium sweet Bourbon. Nice burn at 100 proof. This is what American Whiskey should be like. It isn't as smooth as the Woodford or as flavorful as the W L Weller Special Reserve, not to mention that it costs more.

Knob Creek
Review by Anonymous Sep 9th 2011

Color

Rich caramel

Nose

Smokey, like a fine tobacco

Body

Full body

Palate

Oak, hint of sweetness

Finish

Lingering warmth

My go to bourbon. A big step up from Jim Beam, Grandad, and Makers. In my opinion it is on par with much higher priced bourbons.

Knob Creek
Review by Eye-lah Guy Jul 4th 2011

Color

Dark amber in the glass

Nose

Sweet honey and malt

Body

Stalwart

Palate

At first spry and sharp vanilla, followed by deep, chocolate malt; underpinnings of sweet molasses ring throughout

Finish

Warm oak; flavor of sweet malt lingers for a satisfying fade out

A good dram from the Beam distillery, however, aged nine years in small batches, I expected an excellent one. Either white label, black or Beam rye are all superior (and more afordable for that matter).

Knob Creek
Review by Leo Mar 31st 2011

Color

coppery

Nose

slight sweetness and a little burn

Body

smoooth, a nice coating and then some after simmering

Palate

Very nice

Finish

A long slow finish, very smooth

Very pleasant whiskey, not as much burn as you would expect with a high alcohol whiskey, a nice lingering after taste and not much burn at all. Very smooth.

Knob Creek
Review by Smallfrenchman Jan 2nd 2011

Color

Pale Gold

Nose

Corn, Alcohol, Grain, Sweet

Body

Liquid fire, full, rich

Palate

Corn, initial sweetness

Finish

Not as sweet as it smells, also not as much fire lingers as I expected. Burst of heat and then glowing coals.

Yowzer!! This one has some strength to it! One of the more enjoyable bourbons I've had. I like 'em neat though, so I go slow with this one.

Knob Creek
Review by Anonymous Oct 23rd 2010

Color

light mahogony

Nose

honey, and vanilla

Body

thick and syruppy

Palate

woodsmoke and fresh spices

Finish

deep burn in the throat

This Bourbon (not Tennessee Whiskey) has grown on me. Not comparable to a Jack Daniels(Tennessee Whiskey) or Jim Beam, which are both possibly only good for mixing. Lots of burn, but some underlying complexity that comes out with a bit of water. Traditional Bourbon vanilla and honey. Not truly worth the price tag though.

Knob Creek
Review by Anonymous Feb 26th 2010

Color

rich caramel

Nose

Vanilla bean, overripe cherry, smoky oak

Body

Full and smooth

Palate

Vanilla, burnt sugar, orange peel simmering in water on the stove with cinnamon and cloves, numbing hits and reminds you that you're drinking 100 proof bourbon

Finish

Finish is long and perfectly warm, vanilla filled and rich with oak

Knob creek is what bourbon is supposed to be warm and strong, just complex enough

Knob Creek
Review by Anonymous Feb 25th 2010

Color

Deep caramel

Nose

This one wakes up your nose and screams "bourbon". Heavy on the oak and leather.

Body

Probably among the fullest bodies out there. Thick, almost caramel-like.

Palate

Roasted maple, leather and caramel balanced with light notes of cinnamon.

Finish

A long, strong finish. Nicely warms the heart.

This is a whisky best appreciated by a seasoned bourbon drinker. One to be savored. Don't you dare mix it.

Knob Creek
Review by Anonymous Jan 9th 2010

Color

Amber

Nose

A tiny bit of squeetness masked by potent fire.

Body

Very light and smooth, even textured.

Palate

A very woody taste once you settle into the glass.

Finish

Fiery from start to finish, the first few sips smolder in your throat.

My favorite "storebrand" whiskey. It's high proof and reminds you as such, with alcohol a dominant present in the nose and throat upon first sip. Once you settle in though, it gets comforting, warm and a bit woody. It makes its brothers in the JD line taste like pale, sour imitations of real whiskey, but it doesn't really try too hard to be anything special. You can still taste a bit of that JD/JB "sourness" (I call it) in the mix. JD is bottom shelf whiskey at middleshelf price. Knob Creek knows its place and aims a little higher. An excellent stock whiskey for drinking neat, if you don't mind a little burn.

Knob Creek
Review by JP Dec 24th 2009

Color

Medium dark caramel

Nose

Gasoline, alcohol and a small hint of corn, citrus and vanilla.

Body

Thick.

Palate

Spices and hot/burn.

Finish

Short to medium. Quickly dissolve to smooth and stay for a little while.

A good Jim Beam, but not the best bourbon. When I bought and tasted it, I thought it worth the prices. However, after tasting other bourbon like Evan Williams Single Barrel and Woodford Reserve, I'm not sure it worth the price that much. It is definitely strong in alcohol, not a lady drink. But worth a try.

Knob Creek
Review by Golfer Bill Nov 24th 2009

Color

dark amber

Nose

sweet hint of maple smoke.Pleasing.

Body

Full bodied, Rich

Palate

nutty maple smokey flavor.

Finish

Warm mild bite. Maple spice finish.

First tasted this whiskey at the golf course bar. I ordered a Manhattan made from it. It was exceptional. Better than JD.

Knob Creek
Review by Buck428 Feb 16th 2009

Color

rich amber

Nose

warm log cabin surrounded by snow

Body

bold and pure

Palate

caramel and walnuts

Finish

warm start with a strong but pleasant kick

Excellent whiskey, any true bourbon fan would give this a way higher rating then jim beam or jack daniels....i mean come on!

Knob Creek
Review by Anonymous Nov 17th 2007

Color

caramel

Nose

caramel, earthy

Body

thin

Palate

sweet, peppery

Finish

sweet and caramel gives way to a pepper / spice burn - short lived

I like it better than Jack. It almost reminds me of a grown up southern comfort - not sure that's what was intended.