There’s not enough rye in this rye, by which I mean that the intrinsic qualities of the grain are varnished over with flabby sweetness from the corn, which trades blows with unpleasantly bitter notes from the wood. If this were my only example to go on, I’d be passing on Knob Creek Rye henceforth. Score: 3/10

Knob Creek 18 Year Old: Introduced in 2022, the 100 proof bourbon is the company's oldest expression to date. [10] Knob Creek’s Straight Rye Whiskey 7 Years Old is a bourbon drinker’s rye that puts its spice on full display, especially at the finish. And it certainly tastes richer than how I remember the non-age stated version (already a serviceable pour).Knob Creek Rye: a 100 proof (50% ABV) straight rye whiskey bearing the Knob Creek name was released in 2012. This is the first Knob Creek whiskey not to carry an age statement, instead being advertised only as "Patiently Aged". [7] Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on April 2, 2015 . Retrieved April 1, 2015. {{ cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title ( link) High West is a great example of distillery that built itself up via sourced whiskey, but always sought to make that whiskey their own by transforming it in some way before it was released to the public. The classic Double Rye! is just what it sounds like—two different rye whiskeys, blended together. On the older end, you have well-aged MGP 95/5 rye with a 7 year age statement, but then High West is also chipping in their own house-distilled young rye, which has the added unique factor of being made with 20% malted rye. It’s leathery and sweet on the nose, with the sweetness running a tad darker than butterscotch — think hot praline. There’s some rye spice that’s not overpowering, and more than a touch of fruit. Crisp green apple, raspberry, and chocolate coated cherries bring up the end as a nice compliment to the traditional rye spice. Note this doesn’t run very far into herbal territory as so many high-rye versions do (like MGP’s famed 95% rye mashbill). On the nose, there’s a lot for bourbon lovers to recognize and enjoy. Note: The recently released, brand new Wild Turkey Rare Breed Rye (barrel proof!) would also likely be a great entry here, but I haven’t had a chance to try it yet.

As the two best-known styles of American whiskey, rye and bourbon are often compared to one another, with the broadest and most concise way to describe the difference between the two being some variation of "bourbon: sweet, rye: spicy." But the full story is a bit more complex, as it all comes down to how these whiskeys are made. If there’s one contentious topic that whiskey geeks love to discuss, it’s value in whiskey. And as we wrote in our piece on the best pure values in the bourbon world today, value itself is always something of an indefinable concept: It’s been over a decade since we last reviewed Knob Creek’s flagship rye whiskey, and there’s ample reason to revisit it now. As of March 2023, the previously non-age stated rye now carries a seven year age statement, the first since its national launch in 2012. For reasons best known to my Creator, I maintain a mental heatmap of sentiment around whiskey distilleries and brands. There’s no tallying of scores; rather, in this wholly unscientific approach, I rely on my perceptions of whether I am seeing more praise or criticism for each whiskey.

Score: 3/10

Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve Bourbon: The master distiller hand-selects barrels deemed to hold "exceptional" whiskey for this 120-proof bourbon. It's considered the best of Knob Creek's bourbon. Here then, are our thoughts on the best current values when it comes to rye whiskey, split into two price tiers. Hopkins, Amy (September 26, 2013). "Knob Creek Unveils First Flavoured Bourbon". The Spirits Business. Union Press Ltd . Retrieved April 12, 2016. There’s no faking full bourbon flavor. You have to earn it. So that’s what we do in Clermont: we earn it. We start by selecting the finest grains. And we finish by meticulously aging our whiskey in white oak barrels with maximum char, for an unmistakable richness and signature sweetness. It’s the natural way. And there’s just no cheating nature.

Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve: a 120 proof (60% ABV) single barrel bourbon, was introduced in 2010. [6] The primary expression of the brand is aged for 9 years and bottled at 100 proof (higher than the typical 2 years and 80 proof that are the minimums required by U.S. Federal labeling requirements). Knob Creek comes in a rectangular bottle with a corked or twist-on cap and wax-sealed top. The bourbon has a dark, amber-brown color. [2] History [ edit ]Kiely, Melita (October 6, 2022). "Knob Creek bottles its oldest Bourbon". The Spirits Business . Retrieved October 9, 2022. Knob Creek 2001 Face Off". Archived from the original on October 14, 2016 . Retrieved December 29, 2016.

When the very first bottle was released, our mission was to restore whiskey to the way it was meant to be — patiently aged and full-flavored. This commitment not only helped Knob Creek overturn all the softer, milder, whiskeys on the market, it was also a major step toward making the small-batch whiskey movement what it is today. On the nose: More expressive forthwith, there’s a sweeter creamy note accented by some baking spice. This has more vegetal aromas of tropical jungle, as well as some medicinal scents of eucalyptus and a bittersweet scent of dark chocolate. A sweet, smoky, and savory note of burnt ends rounds off what is, in total, a very compelling nose. Knob Creek 12 Year Bourbon: The same strength and formula as the original, this whiskey was a 2020 release. It is aged for 12 years, which adds to its oaky flavor.

Classic Manhattan

Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Rye has a few things going for it. First off, you’ve got the implicit promise that any given single barrel here is the apple of master distiller Eddie Russell’s eye, and this is a guy who knows his rye whiskey. You also have an attractive proof point that, while not as high as the likes of Pikesville or the Knob Creek, is still fairly close to barrel proof for Wild Turkey, which uses a lower barrel entry proof for maximum flavor. Interestingly, this brand doesn’t feature an explicit age statement, that not being something Wild Turkey usually cares to use as a defining aspect of its products, but it can be assumed that the liquid here is typically a year or two older than the rye whiskey in the 90 proof Russell’s Reserve 6 Year Rye—also a great value, by the way.