Well, this one is something. The Knob Creek 18 Year Old is all Jim Beam liquid through and through, that is for sure. Does it taste like Booker’s? Sure it does. Is it better than recent batches? In our humble opinion, yes. If you like extremely high quality whiskies that are a bit of an oak bomb, that have mellowed over time and are lower ABV than a Booker’s barrel proof, you really have to try this. My Mates, it’s not cheap at $200-250 depending on where you live, but if you can find a bargain, or even grab a dram at your local watering hole, it’s worth the price of admission. Here’s what Mr. Bedard has to say on the subject:
There is a familiarity to the nose that speaks to its roots. Wet oak, cherry, and sweet vanilla dominate the opening. On the palate, sweet plantain and the signature nuttiness are the main players. The whiskey definitely shows its age through the oak but that is kept in check by your favorite notes from this distiller: cherry vanilla ice cream topped with bar room floor peanut shells. Definitely worth the higher price tag if you’re a fan of its younger brothers. The whiskey finishes very refined compared to others in the lineup, but is definitely there for your enjoyment.
In terms of stats, you may not be surprised to see a composite rating of 92.3 which qualifies for 92.7%ile. I think this is the highest rated whisky we’ve written about in quite some time. And yes, it’s expensive in absolute dollars, but at $2.69/percentile, it scores really well on bang for buck.
Well there you have it. For heaps more whisky ratings, detailed whisky comparisons (and now Producer Comparisons too!), check out the web app at whiskymates.com.
