Knob Creek 18 Year Bourbon Review

Knob Creek 18 Year
Small Batch
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Aged 18 Years
100 Proof
MSRP: ~$170
Review

Please enjoy our Knob Creek 18 Year Bourbon Review!

The Oldest Knob Creek Bourbon To Date!

Knob Creek 18 Year Old is a limited edition bourbon released to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Knob Creek Bourbon. The Knob Creek brand of today was born in 1992 as part of Beam’s new Small Batch Collection. The Beam Small Batch Collection was comprised of Booker’s (which was first released in 1988), Basil Hayden, Baker’s and Knob Creek bourbons. Interestingly, Baker’s is now a single barrel bourbon, so is questionably still part of the Small Batch Collection.

Before 1992 Knob Creek’s History Is A Little Murky

As the story today commonly goes, Knob Creek Bourbon is named after the Knob Creek in Kentucky. There are actually two Knob Creeks in Kentucky (of course there are). The Knob Creek in question, however, is the one which was said to have run through Abraham Lincoln’s childhood farm.

Interestingly, The Knob Creek brand dates back to 1898 and was owned by the Penn-Maryland Corp, or one of its precursors. The Penn-Maryland Corp ultimately became part of National Distillers, and when Beam acquired National Distillers in 1987, they acquired the Knob Creek brand, too. Furthermore, as the Penn-Maryland Corp apparently had its initial roots in Pennsylvania (although later on in Cincinnati), the namesake Knob Creek may not have been in Kentucky at all. Regardless, the Knob Creek Bourbon of today has nothing in common with its precursor other than the name.

Let’s Taste Knob Creek 18 Year Old Bourbon!

Tasting Notes – Knob Creek 18 Year Bourbon

🛌 Rested for 15 minutes in a Glencairn

👉Nose: Vanilla, oak, crème brûlée, brown sugar; subtle cherry; relatively light alcohol
👉Taste: Caramel, brown sugar sweetness, oak
👉Finish: Sweetness and hint of cherry lingers, the oak is there, but is not overbearing; light char and a bit of black pepper spice develop, grow and linger. Long finish. Relatively mild burn.

Summary

Knob Creek 18 Year Bourbon really is a delicious well-aged bourbon. Accordingly, it does have quite a bit of oak, but the oak is not overpowering. The nose has a rich dessert like crème brûlée character, with a hint of fruit. Additionally, the taste has a notable brown sugar sweetness, and the expected oak makes its appearance. Finally, the finish has plenty of oak, but the other flavors continue as well, and a bit of spice develops later on. If you are someone who enjoys well-aged bourbons, and is a fan of oak, then this is a bourbon for you!

Conclusion

I am a fan of well-aged bourbons, and I am also a fan of oak, so this is a bourbon that I really enjoy. Although, I originally questioned the 100 proof, generally being a fan of higher proof whiskeys. However, as other have suggested, this lower proof point was likely chosen to keep the oak in better balance. I guess I would have to try it at both proof points to know for sure, but I do know the 100 proof works quite well.

Have you tried Knob Creek 18 Year Bourbon? What did you think?

I hope you have enjoyed our Knob Creek 18 Year Bourbon Review! Want to read about another well-aged Beam bourbon? Then, you will want to read our Hardin’s Creek Jacob’s Well Bourbon Review and our Knob Creek 21 Year Old Bourbon Review. Additionally, if you would like to learn more about the Jim Beam Distillery, check out our James B Beam Distilling Tour Review!

Would you like to learn more about distilleries and bourbon? Are you planning a trip to Kentucky Distilleries? Maybe you would like to live the bourbon life vicariously through us? If any of these are true, then check out BourbonObsessed.com today!