A little background

This limited edition release of Knob Creek represents Fred Noe officially taking over as the patriarch of one of Jim Beam’s most familiar small batch brands following the passing of his father, Booker Noe, in 2004. Three batches of this limited release were produced from barrels of whiskey filled by Booker himself in 2001, and finished by Fred in honor of his father’s teachings and legacy. These bottles were released in 2016 after aging for 14 years and each batch is said to be strikingly different from the others.

This review is of Bottle No. 2772 from Batch No. 1 and it comes in at the standard Knob Creek 100 proof (50% abv). This bottle originally retailed for $130.

(Tasted neat from a Glencairn Glass)

Color

Dark Copper

Nose

The aroma is very pleasant and truly different than a typical Knob Creek release. There are plenty of the notes I usually find in Knob Creek – rich caramel, vanilla, classic Beam nuttiness – but the nose here is more sweet and full of delicate fruit. I found plenty of spiced green apple, some citrus, and the slightest hint of fresh pine.

Palate

This bourbon immediately creates a warm and velvety mouthfeel. There is a perfect balance of sharp, peppery rye spice and alcohol burn mid-tongue, along with oak char, clove, and some sweetness of dried red fruit.

Finish

The finish is long and warm, with just the right amount of burn. There is more caramel sweetness, along with tobacco, some oak, and spicy dark fruit, reminiscent of a dark fruit chutney.

In conclusion

I am a consistent fan of Knob Creek bourbon, but this is not your standard Knob Creek release. This bottle has everything I love about Knob Creek but it is definitely a step up from most releases with the additional complexity on the nose and palate. This is not a cheap bottle and it is a one-time release so don’t expect to see many of these on the shelf, but it is definitely worth the price if you are lucky enough to find it. Fred Noe set out to create a Knob Creek release that honored his father’s legacy and this expression does exactly that by delivering an exceptional pour.