Knob Creek Bourbon x Rye Review

Knob Creek
Bourbon x Rye
Blended Straight Whiskeys
113 Proof
MSPR: ~$50
Review

Please enjoy our Knob Creek Bourbon x Rye Review!

“With this series, we showcase our blending expertise to deliver the full character of American Whiskey. Crafted for quality and full flavor.” – The bottle label

Mash Bill, Age and Additional Facts

• 30% Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey 9 Years Aged
• 70% Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey 7 Years Aged
• Proof 113
• Regarding the MSRP, I haven’t seen an official price. $50 is what I paid, but it seems to go as low as $45 online.

This information all comes from the bottle label. Unfortunately, that’s all that we know about this new whiskey. There has been no press release and the whiskey does not yet appear on the company websites.

A Blend of Straight Whiskeys

While it is fairly uncommon to see blends of different types of whiskeys from the James B. Beam Distilling Co, other than in their Little Book line, it comes as no surprise that they would be adding more. After all, other bourbon and rye blends, such as High West Bourye, have done quite well. In addition, blending different types of whiskeys has been increasing in popularity amongst U.S. distillers and non-distiller producers these days. For example, Bardstown Bourbon Company has been creating blends using whiskeys from different distilleries, as well as different types of whiskeys, pretty much since their earliest releases. So, why wouldn’t a distillery, such as James B. Beam, with a vast array of different whiskeys at their disposal, not want to get more involved in the category? It just makes sense that they would.

Tasting notes – Knob Creek Bourbon x Rye Review

Let’s taste it:

🛏 Rested for 15 minutes in a Glencairn

👉🏻Nose: Rye spices, like allspice; brown sugar; caramel, sugar cookies, sweet cherries and dark plums; rye seeds; tart orange peel; moderate alcohol vapor
👉🏻Taste: Sweet brown sugar, caramel and tart orange citrus
👉🏻Finish: Black pepper rises; brown sugar sweetness fades; tart citrus lingers; dry with tannins and a hint of dry oak later on; long finish with a moderate warmth

The nose is complex, with brown sugar sweetness and caramel, combined with tart orange peel, dark plums and sweet cherries. In addition, there are the expected rye spices, mainly allspice. Interestingly, the sweeter fruits are more noticeable at first, with the citrus and rye spices becoming dominant later on. There are also hints of sugar cookies and rye seeds in the background. The 113 proof, however, makes itself known, probably being enhanced by the rye spices and citrus.

The taste of Knob Creek Bourbon x Rye starts off quite sweet, also with syrupy brown sugar and caramel. Tart citrus rapidly adds a nice contrast, and is quickly joined by rising black pepper spice, which crescendos in the finish. A bit of tart citrus remains, as the long finish grows more dry, with lingering tannins and dry oak.

Summary

Those who have followed me for a while know that I am a big Knob Creek fan. Whether it is their bourbon or rye, I think both are excellent whiskeys. And, that’s particularly true when they are bottled at higher proof, as they are for the single barrels; 120 proof for the bourbon and 115 proof for the rye.

The composition of Knob Creek Bourbon x Rye is dominated by the 7 year old rye (70% of the blend), which gives a nice approximation of the flavor. I might not even guess that it contains bourbon, as its flavors could be explained by a 7 year old rye alone. However, the older bourbon is likely adding some of the sweeter notes, as well as additional body, since there is a bit of a fullness to the mouthfeel that I don’t always expect in a rye. Whatever, the case, Knob Creek Bourbon x Rye is a very enjoyable pour!

Are you a Knob Creek fan, like me? Have you tried this Knob Creek Bourbon x Rye? What did you think? Cheers!🥃

We hope you have enjoyed our Knob Creek Bourbon x Rye Review! If you would like to read about a few more related whiskeys, then check out our Knob Creek 10 Year Rye, our Knob Creek 12 Year Bourbon and our Knob Creek 9 Year Bourbon reviews!

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