Bourbon

Knob Creek Eli Manning’s Bold Pick: 2026 Batch
Single Barrel Cask Strength Kentucky Straight Bourbon

58.2% ABV
$70
Website

We would like to thank Beam Suntory and Multiply for sending us a sample to review.

What the Distillery Says:

As the 2025-2026 football season reaches its pinnacle, Knob Creek®, the founding spirit of the James B. Beam Small Batch Bourbon Collection™ and a leader in American Whiskey, announces its second limited-edition barrel release, Knob Creek® Single Barrel Cask Strength Bourbon, Eli Manning’s Bold Pick: 2026 Batch. Available nationwide, the special edition rounds out its season-long partnership with the legendary quarterback.

Hand-selected by Manning at the James B. Beam Distilling Co. in Clermont, KY, this unique cask-strength expression is bottled straight from the barrel, with proofs ranging from 112.2 to 121.6, unfiltered and uncut. The result is a bold, robust bourbon that opens with flavors of rich vanilla and toasted oak, unfolds into layers of roasted nuts and warm spice, and finishes with a long, full-bodied warmth. A true expression of Knob Creek®’s signature depth and intensity, it’s crafted to be savored during the season’s biggest game-day moments – whether celebrating a fantasy championship or cheering on a team through the final stretch.

“Football teams are built on trust – trusting your picks, your preparation, and your instincts, whether you’re on the field or managing your fantasy lineup,” said Freddie Noe, eighth generation master distiller. “That same mindset guides how we make bourbon. Working with Eli last year set a high bar and bringing him back this season raised it. We put some of our finest barrels in front of him, and this one stood out right away. Bottled at cask strength, it delivers more intensity and more flavor – a full-bodied bourbon built for game day.”

What began as fantasy football advice rooted in making bold calls and trusting one’s gut has grown into a celebration of seeing hard work pay off. Throughout the season and continuing through the postseason, Knob Creek and Eli Manning are continuing to share bold picks on the biggest matchups and ways to celebrate – from hosting the perfect watch party to raising a glass with Eli’s Gameday Old Fashioned, best crafted with the 2026 Batch.

“At this point in the season, you’ve made your calls, and it’s now about seeing them through,” said Eli Manning. “Hand-picking this barrel was a bold pick of its own – balanced, uncompromising, and full of character. It held up every time I came back to it, and that’s exactly what I expect from Knob Creek® when it counts most: a bourbon worthy of the biggest moments.”

TASTING NOTES
COLOR: Dark amber
AROMA: Expansive notes of vanilla and caramel, slightly smoky, slightly oaky
TASTE: Bold and complex vanilla, nuts and oak
FINISH: Lingering warm, full flavor

What Gary Says

Nose: Salted caramel, dark chocolate, brown sugar, black cherry, charred oak and candied pecans.
Palate: Bold and warm with caramel, cinnamon, chili oil, gingersnap cookies, dark chocolate, walnuts and orange zest.
Finish:  Moderate in length, spicy with cinnamon and pepper spice over vanilla.
Comments: I’ve enjoyed plenty of Knob Creek single barrels, and this one is definitely in the ‘bold’ column for sure! Spicy, and a bit on the hot side although with any single barrel (and more so with cask strength offerings) it may vary. I had the pleasure of picking a barrel of Knob Creek with the Georgia Bourbon Society many years ago, and this is a bourbon that really shines at cask strength (although with this particular bottle, a couple drops of water opened it up nicely!) I did try Eli’s Gameday Old Fashioned but believe the bottle of bitters I bought was a bad batch (although swapping for another bitters, I’d recommend upping the Brown Sugar Syrup from 1/4 oz to 1/2 or even 3/4 oz; this bourbon has enough spice and punch to stand up to that).

Rating: Stands Out

Wilderness Trail 6 Year Single Barrel Wheated
Family Reserve Cask Strength Kentucky Straight Bourbon

Barrel # 765288; ISC Classic #4
Rickhouse: E-N12-9-15; Yeast Strain: 927

55.2% ABV
$70
Website

We would like to thank Wilderness Trail Distillery and Allison Worldwide for sending us a sample to review.

What the Distillery Says

Wilderness Trail, the award-winning Kentucky Distillery known for using modern science to optimize old-world distilling traditions, is proud to announce the launch of 6-Year-Old Private Barrel offerings in their single barrel lineup. This marks a notable milestone for the young craft distillery, which was founded only 13 years ago.

The collection features three distinct 6-year-old, single-barrel, cask-strength, non-chill filtered expressions including a Wheated Bourbon, a High-Rye Bourbon, and a Rye Whiskey. Each is meticulously crafted using Wilderness Trail’s Sweet Mash process, proprietary yeast strains, and a Level 4 Alligator Char barrel profile to deliver elevated flavor definition and barrel complexity.

Hand-selected for its distinct character and complexity, each single barrel is a testament to the combination of employing modern fermentation science with traditional Kentucky maturation techniques. Wilderness Trail’s unconventional approach to traditional bourbon-making is crafted for the true whiskey enthusiast looking to explore alternative styles and is best enjoyed neat or on the rocks.

“At six years, our single barrels hit the sweet spot where our sweet mash fermentation and proprietary yeast strains deliver layered complexity without sacrificing balance,” said Dr. Pat Heist, Co-Owner and Chief Scientific Officer of Wilderness Trail Distillery. “The Wheated, High-Rye bourbon, and Rye Whiskey selections let enthusiasts choose between softer high-wheat elegance and the vibrant spice and herbal nuance of rye, each barrel a distinct expression of science meeting tradition.”

Crafted for true whiskey enthusiasts. Each single barrel is hand-selected, bottled at cask strength, and features a high-wheat mashbill for a uniquely soft, rich flavor.

Aged for 6 years, it features a mashbill of 64% corn, 24% wheat, and 12% malted barley using proprietary yeast strains. Aged in a #4 char barrel and entered at 110 proof.

FLAVOR PROFILE
Color: Rich, unfiltered deep amber
Nose: Sweet and nutty.
Taste: Notes of vanilla, caramel, butterscotch, and stone fruit.
Finish: Hints of baking spice, oak, and barrel char.
HOW TO SIP IT
All our whiskeys are best enjoyed neat or on the rocks in a classic sipping glass.
If you’re inclined, you can add a few water droplets to open up their rich aromas. We’ll leave that up to you.

What Gary Says

Nose: Coffee cake with vanilla icing, caramel, cinnamon, oak and a hint of cloves.
Palate: Creamy mouthfeel, caramel, butterscotch, cinnamon, vanilla, nutmeg, pepper spice approaching chili oil.
Finish: Short to moderate in length with oak and pepper spice.
Comments: For the ABV this one drinks a tad hot to me (if I had to guess, I would have put it north of 60%) but a bit of water doesn’t hurt it. In fact a few drops brings out fruit notes on the nose (apples and pears) and tamps down the pepper on the palate, taking the butterscotch over to more of a toffee note. Tried this in an Old Fashioned and it did really well (where I tend to prefer rye-bourbons).

Rating: Stands Out