Three decades ago, Booker Noe set out to redefine the standards for pre prohibition style bourbon and introduced Knob Creek. Today, we honor his legacy with the full flavor and extra aged Knob Creek 18 Year Old Bourbon Whiskey. This limited edition release celebrates the 30th Anniversary of Knob Creek, a milestone measured by time, effort, and commitment to the never ending pursuit of craft. Knob Creek upholds the highest principles of bourbon making with lower proof distillation, rigid warehouse barrel selection, and patient maturation for full flavor extraction. When the intentional way is the hard way, it’s the corners that haven’t been cut that make all the difference.
Aged twice as long as our flagship bourbon, Knob Creek 18 Year Old is our most mature bottling to date, offering a complex yet balanced liquid profile. Our bourbon owes its rich copper color and deep notes of caramelized oak to its extensive aging in our Kentucky rackhouses. Serving Knob Creek 18 Year Old neat or on the rocks allows the depth of this full-bodied bourbon to unravel into notes of caramelized oak and sweet vanilla. Experience Knob Creek 18 Year Old for yourself and raise a glass to the pursuit of craft.
NOSE: Leather and aged oak are most prominent up front, juxtaposed against a complementary caramel sweetness. Hints of tobacco, dark fruit, and nutmeg add depth. While definitely characteristic of older bourbon, with aged oak as its focal point, the aroma has a vibrancy to it that works with its oak forwardness. Overall, this makes for a nicely constructed introduction to the sip.
PALATE: Burnt brown sugar, caramel, tobacco, and a dash of baking spices mingle over top of an aged oak base. It has a manageable, almost welcome dryness that plays into the bourbon’s aged oak base, assuring you of its high age. While its mouthfeel is a tad thinner than I would like, the palate otherwise does well to highlight the aged oak with an underlying vibrancy similar to its aroma. It’s an excellent classic combination of flavors that focuses on aged oak, but still maintains a high level of drinkability.
FINISH: Sweet caramel and brown sugar establish a greater presence in the finish, along with a more robust baking spice intensity. Fading towards dry tobacco and oak, the long finish settles on a balance between aged oak and the complementary supporting flavors. It’s very well constructed and maintains just the right amount of dryness that says it’s an older bourbon, but never overdoes it.
Bottle Size: 750mL
ABV: 50%
