Jim Beam's Knob Creek is quietly building an arsenal of top shelf bourbon expressions.
The Back Story
Allocations from other big name distillers might dominate the secondary markets and social media, but Knob Creek is setting new benchmarks where it matters... on store shelves. In 2020 Buffalo Trace continued to struggle with meeting demand for literally all of their mid-to-top shelf bourbons, while Heaven Hill seemed to solely focus on its quarterly releases of Elijah Craig and Larceny full/barrel proof to stay relevant.
I'm not knocking either distiller for inadequate business practices or questioning the quality of their bourbon portfolios. They literally produce some of the best bourbons on the planet year-after-year. But when you compare the 2020 they had to what Jim Beam was able to accomplish in 2020 with Knob Creek, it's like comparing apples to watermelons, not oranges.
Before we can go any farther, we need to talk about the Wild Turkey in the room. In my experience when it comes to Wild Turkey, it seems like you're either a huge fan of their whiskeys or you're simply just not. There seems to be almost no middle ground.
I'm not sure if it's the brand, wild turkeys (also know as Meleagris gallaopavo) aren't exactly the most glamorous animal on the planet. Or if it's the Russell family's more aggressive taste profile that makes the brand so polarizing. Either way Wild Turkey is a brand that's close to my heart, but it doesn't get the kind of love it deserves to include in this article for comparison. For what it's worth, I really hope that changes sometime soon.
The Case for Knob Creek in 2021
To understand why Knob Creek is poised to have an outstanding year, you have to look at their bourbon line-up from 2020 and what's been easily accessible on the market. What follows is review of Knob Creek's standard and slimited releases that were available to purchase at liquor stores over the past 6 months.
Please note that not all bottles were released in 2020.
Knob Creek 9 Year: In 2020 Knob Creek returned an age statement to the label. This is a big deal. Most major distillers have been removing age statements from their bottles due to their inability to keep up with demand or safeguarding anticipated future growth issues.
When you include it's 100 proof statement, consistent taste profile, and overall quality Knob Creek 9 year is an outstanding value at $34.99.
Brbnry Score: 205 out of 379 Kentucky Miles (very good bourbon experience)
Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve: With any single barrel purchases you make, you are always gambling on whether or not you get a good bottle or a dud. In my experience this has not been an issue with Knob Creek's Single Barrel Reserve. Maybe I've been lucky, but something tells me Jim Beam is just sitting on some fantastic barrels.
When you add its 9 year age statement, 120 proof statement, and robust tasting notes, Knob Creek Single Barrel is a steal at $49.99. This is a bourbon that sips well below its proof statement and provides a top notch experience.
Brbnry Score: 250 out of 379 Kentucky Miles (great bourbon experience)
Knob Creek Quarter Oak: While most distillers are jumping on the "toasted barrel" train, Jim Beam was moving in an entirely different direction. For this limited release Knob Creek ages it's Kentucky Straight Bourbon in quarter oak casks for a minimum of four years and then blends it with standard Knob Creek.
This best way to describe Quarter Oak is its a slightly more robust and well rounded expression of the standard Knob Creek taste profile. For any Spinal Tap fans out there, if you were to turn the volume up on the standard Knob Creek 9 year from 10 to 11, that's where Quarter Oak sits.
Brbnry Score: 235 out of 379 Kentucky Miles (great bourbon experience)
Knob Creek 12 Year: In 2020 Knob Creek announced that this 12 year expression would be added as a regular bottle to its portfolio. If that doesn't blow your hair back, I don't know what would. At a time when most major distillers are unable to add a double digit age statement to their portfolio, Knob Creek dropped a big one.
So just how good is Knob Creek 12 year? So glad you asked. Breaking Bourbon named it their Whiskey of the year and it came in at number 2 on Whiskey Advocate's 2020 whiskeys of the year list. I don't think I need to say much more than that.
Knob Creek 12 Year retails for $59.99 and is an absolute must try at that price point.
Brbnry Score: 345 out of 379 Kentucky Miles ( Outstanding bourbon experience )
Knob Creek 15 Years: This is a 2020 limited release that can still be found on store shelves and at online retailer websites. As you would expect this an oak forward bourbon, but in a desirable way. What's not desirable is it's $99 MSRP when you compare it to some of tKnob's private barrel selects. Which can boost similar age statements and higher proof statements, at almost half the price.
With that being said, this 15 year expression adds sweet oak notes to the standard Knob Creek profile at a proof statement of 100. If you are a Knob fan, this is absolutely a bottle to seek out.
Brbnry Score: 238 out of 379 Kentucky Miles (great bourbon experience, but pricy)
Knob Creek 25th Anniversary: Although this was a 2017 release, I'm including it in this list because it can still be found in stores and at online retailers. It didn't receive a lot of fan fair during its initial release, but four years later folks are slowly starting to catch on. I was able to purchase this bottle in January of 2021 at its suggested MSRP of $129.99.
Knob 25th Anniversary comes in two flavors. Either a 12 or 13 year single barrel pick that carry a proof statement between 120-125. But that's not what set's this bottle apart from its kin. What makes this expression special is it marks the first time that Jim Beam has captured the styles of both Booker and Fred Noe into a single bottle.
Of all of the bourbons in this list, the 25th Anniversary exemplifies the best that Knob Creek has to offer. It pushes the Knob Creek taste profile to the edges of greatness without falling off the cliff. This is a bottle and I can't believe I stumbled upon it at a local liquor store just 15 minutes from my house.
Brbnry Score: 362 out of 379 Kentucky Miles ( a truly great and outstanding bourbon )
Final Thoughts
In 2020 Knob Creek was able to reintroduce a 9 year age statement to it's Kentucky Straight Bourbon, add an award winning 12 year expression to its regular line-up, and continue to offer quality limited releases at various price points. That is just remarkable.
When you consider that each and every bottle in this article was purchased off the shelf without waiting in a long line, or sweet talking a cashier, you almost want to pinch yourself. While most of us were out chasing the same allocated bottles and annual releases, great bottles from Knob Creek have been readily available.
If you haven't revisited Knob Creek recently or haven't experienced their bourbons before, pick-up any bottle off this list and see what you think. It took me a while to come around, but Knob Creek has my full attention now and is my early pick for bourbon brand of the 2021.
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