I’m drinking whiskey like a normal person, again.
I imagine that my bourbon journey proceeded a lot like other peoples’. It started with whiskey as something to be consumed, rather than tasted. Beginning with the bottom-shelf expressions, my preferences were elucidated gradually, over a long process of trial and error. Eventually I developed some discernment and connoisseurship, with a growing awareness that there were yet better bourbons that I could procure.
This is when my heartaches began: content feelings turned to covetous ones as I sought out this or that expression that I had heard of, often at not-insignificant expense. Some of them became new favorites; more ended up being duds that were chalked up to sad experience. Dalliances with overpriced bottles were not the worst of my troubles; with increasing frequency, I was unable to even locate (much less afford) my desired quarry.
Thanks to the generosity of others, I was eventually able to try the majority of the bourbons that I was previously pining away for. As with the ones purchased personally, there seemed to be a half dozen misses for every hit. Still, I was treated to some epic whiskeys, and I quickly became spoiled. If it wasn’t a unicorn bottle from a shuttered distillery, a super-duper-ultra-limited-edition, a 140-plus-proof bruiser from the highest of ricks, or a zany off-profile barrel pick that made me reconsider everything I know about whiskey, I started to feel as though it was unworthy of my limited time and attention.
If this sounds like a miserable way to “enjoy” whiskey: that’s because it is, and I eventually realized that I wasn’t really enjoying it. I yearned for the simplicity of the early days, in which a moderately nice bourbon was enough to put a smile on my face. I longed to get back to that simpler time… but how?
I recently started drinking everyday bourbon again. Starting with the Four Roses Small Batch, I rediscovered the joys of very-slightly-better-than-average whiskey. These bourbons are not going to transport you to distant planets or otherwise change your life, but they will offer pleasurable drinking for a reasonable price.
As it turns out, this normal bourbon is still in abundant supply. Though it may be difficult to believe for someone accustomed to chasing allocated bottles that disappear before they even hit store shelves, mainstay expressions from the large distilleries remain as plentiful as ever. One can walk into any supermarket or any liquor store and be assured of finding a pretty good whiskey.
One of these ubiquitous, modest overachievers is Knob Creek, from the Jim Beam distillery. Since my first taste of a Knob Creek store pick, I have been positively predisposed to this label. In an interesting inversion of my highfalutin’ inclinations: the more I diverge from the core expression, the less I care for the whiskey. I didn’t really enjoy the Quarter Oak and thought the pricing on the 2001 Limited Edition was aspirational, even if the whiskey was nice enough. A store pick with a mid-teens age served, for me, as a cautionary reminder that bourbon doesn’t always get better with time.
However, in that time I have also enjoyed a lot of Knob Creek in informal settings: at an airport bar, on the beach (as a component of a highball), and in the company of friends. At no point did I feel myself on the verge of transcendence, enlightenment, or the development of any superpowers. However, I did experience the placid tranquility of someone who can just enjoy a little bit of whiskey without overthinking, wringing his hands, or waxing poetic.
In acknowledgement of my new orientation, I’ll be reviewing a whiskey today which is not fancy. OK, fine: this whiskey is slightly fancy (old habits die hard). It’s the Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve, originally introduced in 2010. “Our distillers handpick exceptional barrels to be enjoyed in their full, unblended glory,” says Jim Beam. Though this is the type of statement that would typically get a gleeful skewering from me, I’m going to let it slide.
The specifics: This is a single barrel bottled at a strength of 120 proof (60% ABV) and carrying an age statement of nine years. At my local store, bottles retail for about $60 and can be found without much effort… you know, the way it should be. However, this was a sample generously donated by Dave, who has my continued gratitude.
Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve – Review
Color: Golden brown.
On the nose: A polished woodiness meets herbal and forest notes. There’s all manner of pine needles, paprika, nutmeg, thyme, and anise scents lending this quite a piquant nosefeel. Suddenly, a sweet corn note cuts through all this and sings out. Some time in the glass reveals an ashy scent, as well as some subtly stony and gently, lightly fruity aromas. I eventually get a sweet and richly delicious aroma of banana bread which pushes me to finally take a sip.
In the mouth: Starts with a subtly woody richness, which blooms into a hot fruitiness as the whiskey expands to fill the middle of the mouth, evincing the high proof. The top of the tongue is presented with a note of strongly brewed iced tea with a large lemon wedge squeezed in. This turns suddenly into an austere, drying note of limestone that spreads out across the roof of the mouth as the whiskey moves into the finish. There are some lingering notes that echo the pine and herbal scents from the nose; this finishes with an intensity that fades only gradually, resulting in a feeling of stubborn persistence; a slight and momentary bitterness is the only off note to speak of.
Conclusions: This is solid, in the manner of the baseline Knob Creek expression. However – particularly on the nose – there’s a level of aromatic and flavor development that argues for the premium price. Speaking of price: this delivers almost all the high proof drinking pleasure of the more recent Booker’s batches for a much more palatable outlay. It’s certainly far more interesting than other single barrel expressions in the $60 SRP range, with Blanton’s immediately springing to mind as a woeful competitor.
In consideration of all the above, I’m awarding this a positive score and encouraging the Knob Creek fans in the audience to treat themselves to a taste of the high life. For the rest of those on the endless bourbon treadmill: step off, relax, and have a drink!
Score: 6/10
Photo courtesy of Jim Beam.
Good article, it touches on something that I’ve struggled with a bit myself.
To my way of thinking, it all comes down to the question of why we chase after those “desired” whiskies and frequently ignore so many solid, available, and “everyday” expressions of high quality spirits that abound in just about every liquor store. I’ve been fortunate to be able to taste many, many expressions of various whiskies, and it’s helped me avoid dropping significant dollars on some that were frankly, quite disappointing and horribly over-priced.
I believe we all want that something “special”, that expression that ticks all of our particular boxes. We can’t ignore the hype entirely, and to be honest, I’ve attempted at times to ignore what my nose and palate were telling me about certain expressions, just because I was told be marketing or reviewers that this or that whisky was supposed to be a transformational experience. I’ve also ignored outstanding and affordable whiskies because they were affordable, therefore they couldn’t be very special.
I guess I’ve matured to the point where I care about some of those things still, but I let my palate and personal preference be the determining factors on whether or not a specific expression it worth my time and money, regardless of what I’m “supposed” to think about it.
To be sure, it’s nice to have a bottle or two (or more) that are indeed for special occasions, but if all of our whisky isn’t “everyday” whisky, or rather a whisky we’d have no reason to not enjoy “any day” that we want, then why have it to begin with? My problem that I’m still trying to overcome, is to open bottles that I’ve been lucky enough to purchase at reasonably affordable prices that now command ridiculous amounts in auctions.
Inflated prices and “unicorn” bottlings have taken some of the fun out of it in many ways. Although I suppose that I can find a way to convert a now expensive unopened bottle into several less expensive, equally good expressions, OR I can just enjoy the whisky myself and share it with friends who might not ever have the chance to try it.
I choose the latter, for as we all know, the best whisky is a shared whisky. That’s the real experience I’m looking for when I buy that special or everyday dram.
Cheers to whisky you’re willing to drink on any day!
Thanks, Jon. The hunt for new bottles can be compelled by any number of motivations: FOMO, the thrill of the hunt, the desire to discover something new, etc. However, one needn’t pay triple-digits dollars or engage in chicanery to score allocated bottles when there are gems (like this one) hidden in plain sight. Also – as you note – any bottle not opened and shared fails to fulfill its true purpose. Cheers and happy sipping!
Preach!
I first got into scotch on my whisky journey, but turned to bourbon to try to find something more affordable for an “everyday” drinker that was also not the bare minimum 40% abv. Wild Turkey 101 was a brand I did not personally have any negative experiences with, but it was something I just kinda neglected. Eventually I picked a bottle up at some point and liked it fine, but was not taken with it. I leaned more toward Buffalo Trace (which you could actually find regularly for an appropriate price at the time). The more I tried other things over the years, though, the more I kept going back to Wild Turkey. Each time I revisited it I had the experience of, “wow, this is actually way better than I remember.” In that way, Wild Turkey earned my patronage and won me over slowly over time. No hype, no pretense–just quality liquid. It has now become a benchmark for me and my “bourbon homebase.” I probably enjoy drinking 101 more than many other, expensive bottles of bourbon, if I honestly look at myself .
Knob Creek, in its many different variants, has also become another go-to. We are fortunate to be able to get the Single Barrel regularly around the Twin Cities for $45, or sometimes even less on sale. It is really, really hard to justify other bottles in the $60-100 range when the likes of Knob Creek Single Barrel and Rare Breed exist in their competitive set. And better still the non-barrel proofers that still offer great quality, price, and decent ABV. I am now starting to look into Old Forester’s offerings. Similarly, they have some great stuff that’s always available, like their standard 100 proof offering, getting overlooked for their more limited releases. This is the whisk(e)y world we live in these days.
Skål!
Anders, thanks for the comments. I had a similar journey with Wild Turkey. Nowadays, 101, Rare Breed, and Russell’s Reserve 10 YO are mainstays on my home bar shelf. I’d trade either or both of my kids for another bottle of Master’s Keep Bottled-in-Bond 17 YO. I was more immediately positive about Knob Creek and am happy that more and more whiskey folks seem to have come around to this view, especially (like yo noted) given the preponderance of high quality barrel picks at extremely competitive prices. Watch this space for Old Forester 100 proof, coming soon… Skål!
Hi Taylor, thanks for that review. I have been thinking about FOMO a fair bit recently. Here in BC, Canada, our government stores do two special allocated events a year. A lesser summer release, and a bigger winter release. I got to look at the summer release booklet today and ordinarily I’d be pretty excited. But as I flip through and see the prices I’m losing enthusiasm. Blantons Gold for $139.99 Canadian. Regular Blantons at $109.99 Canadian. Plus taxes of course.
So I’m trying to look at more ‘value’ items. I’ve turned to WT101 which has become one of my favourites now, and Old Tub, etc. There are still bottles that I’ll pay a silly price for to try, like say Blue Spot if it ever makes its way here, but I’m trying to spend less, than what I have been doing.
If your travels ever bring you to Vancouver Island, I’ll share my WT Master’s Keep Bottled-In-Bond 17 year with you btw!
Great article and a joy to read. Thanks for keeping things in perspective. Have a great pour!