Company: Knob Creek
Distillery: Jim Beam Distillery
Region: Clermont, Kentucky
Aging: 8 Years 1 Month
Barreled Date: January 26, 2015
Bottled Date: February 28, 2023
Warehouse: 1
Floor: 04
Rick: 05
ABV: 57.5%
Proof: 115 Proof
Mash Bill: 55% Rye, 35% Corn, 10% Malted Barley
Non-Chill Filtered: Yes
MSRP Price: $70
Knob Creek Single Barrel Select Rye Tasting Notes
Appearance: Amber
Nose: Rich caramel, heavy vanilla, rye grain, rye spice, candied fruits, toasted oak, almond, hazelnut
Palate: Rich caramel sweetness, vanilla, rye grain and spice, black pepper, tobacco
Finish: Lovely finish full of rich caramel, oak, and vanilla but predominantly rye spice and pepper
Is Knob Creek Single Barrel Select Rye an Approachable Whiskey?
Knob Creek Single Barrel Select Rye is a store pick from my local Fine Wine and Good Spirits liquor store.
That means that this particular bottle came from a barrel that they visited and hand-selected to be sold in their store.
Each barrel will be different so this review is for the particular barrel they selected.
With that being said, this bottle has a bit of spice and heat on it with its 115-proof point, and every bit of proof is backed up by very nice flavors.
This pour may be a little hot for beginners, but experienced whiskey drinkers will appreciate the amount of flavor in each sip.
Is Knob Creek Single Barrel Select Rye Complex?
Knob Creek Single Barrel Select Rye has a lot of depth and complexity.
It is full of your typical caramel, vanilla, and toasted oak flavors from being aged for 8 years in a barrel and bottled at 57.5% ABV.
In addition to those sweeter flavors, it has a very nice layer of flavor that is full of rye grain, rye spice, pepper, and tobacco notes.
Without being overpowering, they layer on top of the initial sweet flavors and create a very nice balance on your palate that lets you know you’re drinking a higher ABV whiskey but doesn’t shock your taste buds with overpowering flavors.
In addition, there is a nice layer of candied fruits that reminds me of candied apricots and dried mango.
The pour finishes out with a nice mouthfeel and finish that leaves you with a nice flavor for 30-60 seconds after each sip.
What are Knob Creek Single Barrel Select Rye’s strongest attributes/flavors?
Knob Creek Single Barrel Select Rye’s strongest attribute is the balance of sweet and spicy.
It almost reminds me of the combination similar to eating sweet Barbeque ribs followed by Jamaican Jerk chicken wings.
Or maybe just tasting sweeter beef jerky with a nice pepper spice to it.
Either way, I am a big fan.
Is Knob Creek Single Barrel Select Rye a go-to whiskey?
Knob Creek Single Barrel Select Rye is a whiskey that is a step above most other rye whiskeys.
Since each bottle is from a specifically selected barrel, it’s a bottle you cherish for what it is and enjoy it while it lasts.
You will never get the exact same flavor in another barrel, but overall the quality of Knob Creek single barrels seems to be quite consistently reliable.
I purchased this bottle after returning home from my Kentucky Bourbon Trail Trip with my dad where we were able to bottle our own bottle of Knob Creek Single Barrel Bourbon.
Is Knob Creek Single Barrel Select Rye priced accurately to its quality?
Knob Creek Single Barrel Select Rye delivers on its price tag.
I wouldn’t pay a ton more than $70 for this bottle, but the amount of flavors and the higher ABV of this rye whiskey is worth the price of admission.
Conclusion for Knob Creek Single Barrel Select Rye
I wasn’t sure if I would enjoy the Knob Creek Rye whiskey as much as I do their bourbon, but I was pleasantly surprised and am glad I purchased this bottle.
I’ll have to do a side-by-side comparison with my favorite rye whiskeys which are New Riff Single Barrel Rye Whiskey and Peerless Rye Whiskey.
Just thinking about comparing the bottles makes me want to do a separate article comparing my favorite Rye Whiskey.
If you have a favorite rye whiskey, let me know what it is in the comments below.
Let Us Know What You Think
I hope you enjoyed this tasting experience with me.
If you decide to give this bottle a shot, please let me know on social media via Reddit, Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.
Thanks for reading and cheers!
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