Yesterday I reviewed the standard issue Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve and today we’re taking a look at another release (Wed and Fri as well), but this one is a single barrel from Nasa Liquor in Texas. I have a buddy down in TX that I did a swap with and picked up three different single barrels that the store had picked out. Why you ask would I want to do this? Because there’s no better way to really get to know the character of a whiskey than tasting several different single barrel expressions.
Knob Creek Single Barrel 1782 Info
Region: Kentucky, USA
Distiller: Jim Beam
Mashbill: 77% Corn, 13% Rye, 10% Malted Barley
Cask: New charred oak
Age: 9 Years
ABV: 60%
Cask: 1782
Bottled For: NASA Liquors
Price: $50
Knob Creek Single Barrel 1782 Review
EYE
Saddle leather
NOSE
Remarkably light nose that slowly opens to notes of watery caramel, butterscotch, toasted nuts and spice. Some light notes of corn, wood and dark honey lightly dance in the glass with a bit of baking soda.
PALATE
Richer than the nose with notes of caramel syrup, butterscotch, fruit syrup, spice, toasted nuts and some lighter notes of wood, Necco Wafers and mineral water. There’s nice buttery aspect to the palate I wish came across on the nose.
FINISH
Medium fade of spice, toasted nuts, cocoa and wood.
BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
An ok balance, medium body and a slick oily texture.
OVERALL
Knob Creek Single Barrel by its very nature is a product that very few people will ever experience in the same way. That’s why this week I’m exploring 4 different expressions, – to get 4 different perspectives on the component barrels that go into making the traditional Knob Creek release. This barrel in particular held some of the same characteristics of the standard issue Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve I tried yesterday, the biggest similarity being the light nose and relatively low level of woody notes.
For my tastes I want a stringer woody essence in my bourbons to balance out the sweet notes. So while this may not be exactly what I look for in a bourbon it would definitely fit the bill for folks who like the sweeter lighter bourbons. I can’t really use the word delicate here, but there is a… properness about this barrel. If it could be said a barrel of whiskey has manners this would be a well behaved barrel and I like a whiskey that gets a little rowdy.
SCORE: 85/100
