February 2026

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