Taking inspiration from their Scottish distillery (Laphroaig Quarter Cask), the Knob Creek Quarter Oak is a mix standard Knob Creek bourbon and Knob Creek bourbon that’s been finished in quarter casks for four years. No word on how old the bourbon was before it enters the 4-year quarter cask finishing process, but that’s a heck of a long time in a small vessel.
There’s also no word on how old the base, standard, bourbon is nor how much of the quarter oak is in the total mix. I understand they want to keep it all proprietary, but from a whiskey nerd perspective knowing these details is part of the fun.
Tasting this side-by-side with the standard Knob Creek bourbon whiskey, and knowing exactly how it differs, is a great education on how little, or how much, it takes for distillers to change their standard profile. Without those details, all we know is “there is some in it” and compare this whiskey review with the standard KCB review to see the difference. Which is still educational, just a tad less so without the details.
Knob Creek Quarter Oak Review: Details and Tasting Notes
“Knob Creek Quarter Oak takes the brand’s Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, crafted in the pre-prohibition style fans expect from Knob Creek, and finishes it for a minimum of four years in quarter cask, American oak barrels to increase the amount of contact between the whiskey and wood. A small amount of this unique, secondarily finished whiskey – which delivers richer notes of oak – is then mingled with Knob Creek® Kentucky Straight Bourbon to create the final product that boasts a harmonious balance of oak influence and traditional, sweeter notes.”
Details (price, mash bill, cask type, ABV, etc.)
Region: Kentucky, USA
Distiller: Jim Beam
Mash Bill: 77% Corn, 13% Rye, 10% Malted Barley
Cask: New Charred Oak and Quarter Cask
Age: NAS
ABV: 50%
Price: $50*
Tasting Notes
EYE
Caramel
NOSE
Caramel, sunflower seeds, oak, herbal spiciness, dark fruit and some peanuts and Jujubees.
PALATE
Peanut brittle, oak, char, herbally spice and dark fruit.
FINISH
Long -> Oak, caramel, menthol and peanuts.
BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
Ok balance, medium body and a soft easy feel.
Knob Creek Quarter Oak Review: Overall and Score
Interesting and odd. The Aroma is really sweet and nutty; Palate is also very sweet and slowly builds with the menthol showing heavily in the finish; Finish is a combat zone of sweet caramel, rustic oak and peanuts and medicinal menthol.
While I appreciate the approach, I don’t care much for the end result. It’s so intensely sweet and as it sits and opens it turns to peanuts, to the point that’s nearly all I’m getting towards the end of a glass. Love the experimentation, but it’s not an improvement over the original Knob Creek.
SCORE: 2.5/5
*Disclosure: This whiskey sample was graciously sent to me by the company for the purposes of this review. The views, opinions, and tasting notes are 100% my own.
Knob Creek Quarter Oak $50
Overall
2.5- Nose (2.5)
- Palate (2.5)
- Finish (2.5)
- BBF (2.5)
User Review
0 (0 votes) Comments Rating 0 (0 reviews)Knob Creek Quarter Oak Review Summary
It’s an interesting experiment, and I love that they did it, but I prefer the standard Knob Creek Bourbon over this.
’’’
