This Knob Creek Rye Single Barrel (#5811) was selected by the Houston Bourbon Consortium and sold by the good folks at Nasa Liquor in Houston, TX. Luckily I have a friend who lives in Houston and so when Nasa picks something interesting they grab it for me; it’s good to have those kinds of friends.
So what is this exactly? Well, to put it bluntly, it’s the Knob Creek Rye we all know and love; only instead of being a blend of a bunch of barrels the whiskey in this bottle all comes from a single barrel… hence the name. However, unlike other store picks this one is bottled at full cask strength and carries a 6 year age statement. Pretty unique, but also pretty straightforward, and with that… on to the review.
Whiskey Review: Knob Creek Rye Single Barrel
In Jim Beam’s Words: Knob Creek Rye Single Barrel
The don’t have an entry on their site about the Knob Creek SiBs, but they do have this to say about their single barrel program. “Our Knob Creek® Single Barrel Experience is a program that allows individual retailers to personally claim their own barrel. Participants can even make the trip to Clermont to get their hands dirty with their own one-of-a-kind bourbon.”
And they have this to say about their rye “We select the highest-quality rye to create the World’s Best Rye 2016 IWSC. (2016 International Wine and Spirits Competition Best Rye Worldwide Whiskey)”
Knob Creek Rye Single Barrel price, ABV, age and other details
Region: Kentucky
Distiller: Jim Beam
Mash Bill: At least 51% Rye, Corn and Malted Barley
Cask: New Charred Oak
Age: 6 Years
ABV: 63.2%
Cask Strength | Non-Chill Filtered | Natural Color
Warehouse: 1
Floor: 6th
Rick: 20
Barreled: 10-15-12
Bottled: 2017
Price: $48
Knob Creek Rye Single Barrel Tasting Notes
EYE
Caramel
NOSE
Oaky, earthy spice (cardamum and turmeric), leather, pepper and a bit of toffee.
PALATE
Oak, caramel, spice (cinnamon and nutmeg), dark fruit, leather and a bit of vanilla and peanuts.
FINISH
Long -> Oak, dark fruit, spice, toffee and a hint of dill as it fades out.
BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
Good sense of balance, round full body and oily feel.
Knob Creek Rye Single Barrel Review – OVERALL
This Knob Creek Rye Single Barrel (#5811 selected by the Houston Bourbon Consortium) is awesome, it’s everything you want in the typical Knob Creek Rye, just kicked up a notch. The aroma is big heavy spice and oak with a touch of sweetness. On the palate the spice backs off just a bit and more sweetness comes out which plays on through the finish. Water brings out a bit more peanuts and evens out the oak a bit across the senses.
This is the kind of big bold rye whisky that’s a welcome addition to the market and this bottle has been a delight since I cracked it open and just might become one of my new whiskey obsessions. I love the regular KCR and a higher proofed single cask with all the different nuances it picks up makes it even more exciting moving into the future.
SCORE: 88/100 (B+)
Knob Creek Rye Single Barrel Review
- Nose - 89
- Palate - 89
- Finish - 89
- Balance, Body & Feel - 88
Knob Creek Rye Single Barrel Review Summary
If your local liquor store does a Knob Creek Rye Single Barrel pick I recommend picking it up. It’s going to be unique, fun and give you a great high proofed rye for your home bar / liquor shelf.
