Knob Creek 15 Year (2020) - Limited Edition - Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
$99
Knob Creek 15 Year (2020) – Limited Edition – Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Collection: Release: KC001 – DSP: KY-230
Proof: 100
Age: 15 Year
Distillery: Jim Beam Distillery / Beam Suntory
Type: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Mash: 77% Corn, 13% Rye, 10% Barley
Website: Knob Creek
*Disclaimer: A score of 5 is the midpoint for my reviews. Above 5 I like it. Below 5 I didn’t for some reason. Most of my reviews are between 4-7. It takes something really really special to go above 7 or below 4. See the methodologies for rating at the end of the article
Nose: Apple Cinnamon Pie, Oak, and Leather with some Ethanol heat. It’s clear in the nose this is the big brother and more mature version of the Knob Creek 12 Year.
Taste/Palate: This is hot and thin from the sound of the starting gun. The mature notes come forward first with Oak, Medium Char, & Leather. In the midpalate it very quickly transitions to a much sweeter pour. The maturity was followed by Butterscotch, Vanilla, and Dark Chocolate Cherries.
Finish: The Oak and Leather sit with you from Nose to Finish. It’s not too much, but it is dominant. There’s Rye Spice that comes forward more and accompanies the Oak with the Caramel and Red Licorice in the backdrop.
Verdict: (See my Knob Creek 12 vs 15 in Summary Section below): If you prefer bold, oak and char dominance this 15 year is for you. I won’t spoil the head to head summary listed below, but that’s the 35,000 foot view. It’s very noticeably different from Knob Creek 12 if you have to choose between the two and you’ll get some variety by having both.
MSRP: Pass on KC001 / Buy on KC002 Price Ceiling: $100 (The most I’d pay for this bottle)
The Story: Hopefully you found my review of Knob Creek 12 prior to seeing the Knob Creek 15. It helps to provide context. However, short story is I really liked Knob Creek 12. So when I saw the Limited release older brother I jumped on it quickly and grabbed one for me and my bourbon loving friend. We tried it and it didn’t really meet either of our expectations. I put on the shelf and when I had a desire for Knob Creek I gravitated towards the 12 or 9 year. Much less expensive and easier to find. The thought was to save the Knob Creek 15 for when someone was over and they wanted to give it a try. More to share was my theory. Now here we are it’s at the end of 2021 and I decided to give this 15 year another go. I have seen many “hunting” these bottles so I wanted to do a 12 vs 15. How do they differ? Which has a better taste, complexity, balance, or value? Details below.
The Distillery’s Story (My Summary): Beam Suntory has been cranking out quality Bourbons for quite some time (and many other brands outside of the Bourbon spectrum). They are well known for their rail Jim Beam bourbon and as you climb the Beam quality you notice Basil Kayden, Makers Mark, Knob Creek, Bakers, Bourbon deLuxe, and Bookers. It’s a very impressive line-up that covers the market from rail to premium. They are now getting more and more into the highly sought out expressions with rare limited release versions found with higher age statements and Cask Strengths.
Specifically relating to Knob Creek. They crank out their juice in Clermont, KY under the Beam umbrella. They have been climbing in popularity at a very fast pace. It took me a while to find their Smoked Maple version. Knob Creek is most notable for producing quality bourbon with character. They also have their standard line-up with a clear age statement (Knob Creek 9 and 12). Knob Creek started with their 9 year age statement and the Knob Creek 12 came out as a limited release. Now the Knob Creek 12 is part of their standard line up and their Knob Creek 15 is now in the limited release category. I’m curious if the Knob Creek 15 will enter their standard line-up and a higher age statement will be the new limited release in the future. I fully support it if that’s the master plan. But remember extra age doesn’t always mean a better pour.
Knob Creek 12 vs 15 Head to Head:
Nose: The noses of each are surprisingly similar, the despite the additional maturity present in the 15 year, the 12 was more enjoyable and balanced. – Knob Creek 12
Palate: Once again I prefer the 12 year. The 15 year is too disjointed and thin. The 15 year is more complex, but it’s too all over the place vs the 12. I liked them both, but I prefer one over the other. Knob Creek 12
Finish: I give the edge to the 15 year on the finish. The oak and leather balance out and everything comes together nicely at the finish. The Knob Creek 12 is very good too, but it loses a little of it’s age on the finish that the 15 carries. Knob Creek 15
Balance: Based on my previous comments I’m sure you can guess this one. From start to finish Knob Creek 12 has the best balance. I prefer the balance of the 15 in the finish only, but overall the 12 is a clear winner. Knob Creek 12
Value: If you’re keeping score at home this should be obvious. It’s easer to find and less expensive and won 3/4 categories for me. Knob Creek 12
Overall: Prior to doing this review I poured both of these in identical glasses and set them on the counter. I asked my wife to put them randomly on A or B so it was blind. I did the head to head prior to doing the 12 and 15 year review. It wasn’t completely blind because I put my nose in the first glass grabbed and knew right away it was the 15 year. Long story even longer I’d take the 12 year all day based on Price, Taste and Availability. The 15 year is good and I believe the $99 price was fair, but I’ll take the 12 year all day and the 15 would only serve as a change of pace.
In Summary: Knob Creek 15 kind of reminded of me of Orphan Barrel – Copper Tongue. One is 15 and the other is 16 years that were cooked in completely different locations by different distilleries altogether. Where I find them similar is that the balance is slightly tipped for me in the over-cooked direction. A lessen here is higher age statement doesn’t necessarily mean better. Many in the Pappy world consider the Pappy 20 better than the Pappy 23 because the extra 3 years did it a slight disservice. 1 year can change things up in a barrel. 3 extra years can take the dram in a completely different direction. As seen in Knob Creek 15. Some whiskies only spend 3 years in the barrel. See Garrison Brothers.
If you prefer the oak, char, and barrel dominance in your drams this one is for you. I prefer slightly more balance.
Methodologies for Rating:
1. Dump it down the drain or regift it to someone you don’t care for.
2. This doesn’t even belong in a mixed drink. Use in case of an emergency.
3. It’s really not for me, but I heard some people like it.
4. Its only good when I’ve had too many and it’s decent in a mixer.
5. Solid. It hit all of what’s expected.
6. Above average. Good to bring to an event and you wouldn’t expect any guff from it.
7. Buy two if you see it to make sure you have one on reserve.
8. Very Very good. Constantly a GREAT POUR.
9. Superb. If I were to drink this and only this from now on I’d be a happy person.
10. Perfection is impossible. But this really comes as close as you can possibly get.
Nose, Palate, and Finish I rank regardless of cost. Value (recent addition) is ranked based on taste vs price.
Reviewer: David S
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