Knob Creek Rye Whiskey Review
Knob Creek Rye Quick Stats:
Spirit: Knob Creek Rye
Distiller: Knob Creek
Aged: NAS
Price: $29.99
Proof: 100
About The Distillery:
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.
We don’t age our bourbon nine years and longer because we’re required to. We do it because the extra time and effort are well worth it. Under the care of seventh-generation distillers, minutes become days, the days become years and the years become bourbon. Refined enough to sip, yet strong enough to carry a cocktail. We call it Knob Creek.
About The Bottle:
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.
The highest-quality rye grains create the hardest-working rye whiskey. This 100 proof Knob Creek Rye pairs traditional rye spice with our signature sweetness. Its high corn mashbill makes it perfect for the bourbon drinker looking to add a rye to their liquor cabinet. Just ask the judges of the 2016 World Spirits Competition, who named it the World’s Best Rye.
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Nose
(3.8)
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Palate
(3)
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Finish
(3.5)
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Proof vs Heat
(3)
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Value
(4.2)
Notes & Review
Nose: A lot of wood on the nose. Oak with an herby and rosemary vanilla.
Palate: Bold and herby. Dried spice with rosemary, pepper and hints of cherry.
Finish: Lingering. Baking spice, cherry, cinnamon and pomegranate.
Review:
The nose feels like I’m holding a handful of oak shavings soaked in a spiced vanilla oil and then left to dry out at the base of an herb garden. You get that earthy and familiar aroma of the rye in the nose. It has a very pleasant and enticing air about it.
Another addition to the spicier than one would expect from the nose club. Not too much of a sucker punch, because we’re expecting some spice and heat on a 100 proof rye whiskey.
I hesitate to put this in here because I don’t want to sound like this is a fruity rye but I get notes of cherry cinnamon and pomegranate. The finish leaves me with the typical earthy coating that ryes have but it’s not too overwhelming and gives way to the spicy cherry and pomegranate after a while. You can definitely still pick out other pings of flavor on your tongue as this finish lasts for the better part of a decade
Okay, so let’s take a look at the facts here. This is a 100 proof rye. NAS but a blend of up to 9 year old whiskeys. It’s 29.99. So you’re getting a blend of well aged whiskeys at a kicker of a proof for 30 bucks. Not a bad deal. Having said that, this pour isn’t for the faint of heart or for an introduction into ryes in my opinion. It comes out bold and full bodied with some decent heat on the tongue and it does not seem to lose that effect even after the first couple mouthfuls. If you love rye that’s going to keep your mouth spiced and coated in pings of heat and flavor for a couple minutes after the sip, this is for you to drink neat.
This is a rye whiskey enthusiast’s budget pour and that’s why this baby gets marks in the value category. I’ve actually become more fond of this pour the longer I’ve had it. If you get this as a gift and are a little hesitant on the pour after the first tasting, leave it on the shelf for a few weeks. Come back to it and experience another dram and see how you feel after the 2nd or 3rd tasting. This bottle does seem to be a good candidate for mixing though. A bold palate and finish that can stand out even in a mix.
This is my first taste of Knob Creek rye, in an old fashioned followed by a good second pour over a small remaining amount of ice. It has a little spice, a little caramel, and a few fruit notes. I would call it exceptionally pleasant, and I plan to have more, at least until Knob bourbons return in full force.