Being part of the Jim Beam Small Batch family is a lot of pressure. With Booker’s, Baker’s, and Basil Hayden’s as siblings, Knob Creek has a big reputation to uphold. Unfairly, Knob Creek is often written off as the underdog of the family, but if the 9 Year Bourbon is any indication, the Beam family name is safe for now.
Knob Creek 9 Year Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey was released in 1992 to some pretty high acclaim. At that point in the bourbon game, small batch wasn’t really a thing – at least not a thing anyone was doing seriously. Since then, many other small batches have entered the game, but Knob Creek felt untouchable until 2016. Due to severe inventory issues, Jim Beam removed the age statement claiming they would not be able to ensure all barrels were aged for 9 years. It was four, long, dark years until the age statement came back into effect.
And thank the bourbon gods it did because it makes all the difference. Knob Creek 9 Year Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey shows off a full flavor range beginning with a peanut butter, vanilla, and leather smell. That vanilla and leather duo are carried over into the taste alongside oak and cherry before the sweet, pepper finish. It’s a balanced bourbon with a solid texture that carries its 100 proof exceptionally well.
For under $40, Knob Creek delivers a super enjoyable sipper and a choice cocktail base all in one neat small batch package. While the small batch concept may not be as groundbreaking as it used to be, Knob Creek 9 Year is here to prove that it’s not the size of your batch that matters, but the age.
STATS: Knob Creek’s 9 Year Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
- Price for us: $39 for 750 mL
- Proof: 100
- Aged: 9 Years
- Distillery: Knob Creek, Owned by Jim Beam
- Recommendation: Neat
