Knob Creek Cask Strength Straight Rye Whiskey

• Distillery – Knob Creek Distillery
• Region – Clermont, Kentucky
• Age – No age statement but around 9-10 yrs
• Strength – 63.5%, 127 Proof
• Mash Bill – Unknown (Supposedly – 51% Rye, 35% Corn and 10% Malt)
• MSRP – $60-70

Glance

A nice deep copper appearance to it and has nice legs to it. Its very visibly oily.

Nose

The nose was very interesting on this one. I must say right out of the bottle and the first dram, the first smell I picked up was a smell of a brand new car! Then after letting it breathe more, I got smells of freshly baked bread, raisin bread, brown sugar, peanut and caramelized sugars. You can smell the spiciness from the rye but it smells like the spice has been mixed in with simple syrup. Continue letting it breathe more to unlock more smells!

Taste

Being it was rye I was ready for the onslaught of spiciness and peppercorn crackling, combined it being 127 proof. I was happy to taste that it was relatively quite a smooth and a flavorful ride. After your tongue acclimates to the alcohol, these are the flavors I got in order.

Starts of spicy with some baking spice coming into play. During this your whole tongue gets coated with the peppercorn sparkling and pop feel. One of my favorite things about drinking ryes, is that it wakes up all of your senses!

Then you can taste vanilla extract, and brown sugar. Towards the end right before you get into the finish you can taste freshly baked bread like in a clay oven, pumpkin pie, woodiness, and caramelized peanuts.

Finish

For me the finish was the biggest letdown. Nothing much to write home about. Its relatively short and dry overall. You initially get the spicy heat which simmers down quick. You are left with reminiscences of oak and brown sugar.

Closing Remarks

Overall the Knob Creek Cask Strength Rye Whiskey Batch 2 was a pleasant experience. As bourbon is increasing in cost for the end consumer this year, its always great to find a high proofer aged around 9 years below $100. I found the nose to be most enjoyable with this offering from Knob Creek. As I let it breathe more, I could extract more smells and that kept me intrigued. The palette offered similar to what I was smelling but the very lively spicy and peppercorn crackling mouth feel, kept me hooked. For a 120 proofer it was surprisingly sweet with dryness. Overall the taste wasn’t anything spectacular but it was something you wanted to continue sipping. Its not too complex but wouldn’t call this a barbecue sipper either as it commands some attention. The finish was the biggest setback in this rye, as it was short with reminiscent of slight oak and honey sweetness. Right as you enter the finish, it seems promising with spicy heat and mouthfeel returning but all flavors drop off fast, and you are left with some heat and sweetness.