Knob Creek Cask Strength Rye (2018)
59.8% ABV
$60 – $70
Website
What the Distiller DOESN’T Say . . .
Anything. Seriously – I couldn’t find any mention of this new, exciting product on their website (Beam-Suntory or Knob Creek), their facebook page, etc. I’m baffled as to why – other than they expect this will sell out without the need to publish so much as a press release on it. So, sorry to report dear reader that I can’t share what they’d say about it.
What Gary Says
Nose: Sweet caramel drizzled tiramisu with toasted orange zest and subtle chocolate notes over fall leaves; a tad hot.
Palate: Rich, warm sweetness with caramel and chocolate that skips a few gears and explodes into an orange spice zip with drying pepper spice.
Finish: Long and drying w/ burnt pepper notes trailing off.
Comments: The nose advertises a nice, semi-tame rye – which the palate starts to deliver before quickly erupting with a strong rye spice explosion. This isn’t age stated (the bottle says it was barreled in 2009, so assuming it was dumped late last year or early this year – it is in the 8-9 year range), and the label also doesn’t mention it is a “straight” rye whiskey – but sources indicate that it is despite not being labeled as such. Regardless of the precise age – this is a damn tasty whiskey. Rye with much age and proof is harder to come by today, and this makes me yearn for the days when I could walk in and pick up a 7 or 8 yr cask strength rye whiskey for $50 or $60. I was fortunate to pick this up for under $60, but even at $70, I would be pretty happy with it. I’m hoping this becomes an annual (or more frequent) release – and at the same price point!
Rating: Must Try