Is Jim Beam up a creek with this rye whiskey?
It’s no big secret that the Beam Suntory group has recently been making big moves toward rye whiskey. To date, the company has released Basil Hayden Rye, Basil Hayden Dark Rye, Jim Beam Rye, and Knob Creek Rye. The creation and remix of Jim Beam Rye in 2015 was surprising enough, but the rye route for the brands within the Jim Beam Small Batch family is certainly interesting.
The Small Batch Collection, which includes Basil Hayden’s, Knob Creek, Baker’s, and Booker’s, has long been one of the most important lines for Beam Suntory, outside of Jim Beam itself. So to see Knob Creek Straight Rye, an ongoing release from one of the Small Batch branches, says a lot about how the major bourbon brand is weighing and investing in rye whiskey. Unfortunately, they may not have invested in all the right ways.
Knob Creek Straight Rye Whiskey is meant to be the rye counterpart to Knob Creek 9 Year Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. True to Knob Creek form, the whiskey touts a 100 proof label, as well as being a small batch. However, they’re a little less up front about their mashbill. The most detailed description the company would release states it is a, “high corn mashbill…perfect for the bourbon drinker looking to add a rye to their liquor cabinet.” Which should basically be read as, “A barely legal rye whiskey that will taste a heck of a lot like bourbon.” It’s no wonder rumors about this being a 51% rye mashbill have been swirling.
And while we don’t have any facts about the barely legal mashbill, the taste of this whiskey backs up that assumption. Knob Creek Rye Whiskey is smooth with very, very light vanilla and oak flavors. The middle sip is a bit more earthy with heavier oak, a bit of pine, and citrus for an almost Christmas vibe. There’s a whisper of heat at the end, but it’s definitely not bitey. At the end of the day, it’s a pleasant rye whiskey that’s lacking a strong personality. Compared to its bourbon sibling, who is packed with flavor and energy, that’s disappointing to say the least.
If you’re rye curious, Knob Creek Straight Rye Whiskey is an easy, entry-level way to dip your toe in. And hey, we wouldn’t be insulted to receive a bottle of it as a gift, but if we’re looking to spend $40 on a rye whiskey then it wouldn’t be our first choice. In fact, whiskies like Copper Fox Original Rye Whiskey, James E. Pepper 1776 Rye Whiskey, Woodford Reserve Rye Whiskey, Wild Turkey 101 Rye Whiskey, Rittenhouse Rye Whiskey, or even Sazerac Rye Whiskey offer a bigger personality for the same price point or cheaper.
Seeing a bourbon mega-corp paddle toward the rye whiskey world is certainly exciting. But if Beam Suntory is trying to conquer the rye industry with their current iteration of Knob Creek Straight Rye Whiskey, they may be a little sunk.
STATS: Knob Creek Straight Rye Whiskey
- Price for us: $40 for 750 mL
- Proof: 100
- Aged: NAS, but at least 4 Years
- Distillery: Jim Beam, owned by Beam Suntory
- Recommendation: Neat or Mixed
