Stands Out

Knob Creek

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Knob Creek Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
50% ABV/100 Proof
$28 to $30
Widely Available

What the Distillery Says:
Knob Creek Bourbon was named after a little creek that runs just south of the distillery, the same creek that ran by Abraham Lincoln’s childhood home. Booker Noe, 6th generation Beam and master distiller emeritus created Knob Creek to reflect the strength, flavor, care, and patience that defined pre-prohibition bourbon. The bottle embodies the handmade look and feel of the turn-of-the century bourbon as well. It is reminiscent of a bootlegger’s flask with newspaper scrawled on the label, harkening back to the decade’s old custom of wrapping bottles in newspaper at the distillery.

Knob Creek bourbon was created in the style of turn of the century bourbon. Knob Creek embodies the bold flavor that has made Kentucky famous for bourbon. Aged the longest of the Small Batch Bourbons – 9 years – in charred American white oak, it strikes the senses with a maple sugar aroma, distinctive sweetness and rich, full-bodied flavor. Knob Creek is perfect straight or cooled slightly with one or two ice cubes.

Tasting Notes
Age: 9 years
Proof: 100
Color: Copper to medium amber
Aroma: Toasted nuts, grain oak
Taste: Rich, sweet, woody, full-bodied, almost fruity
Finish: Long, rich and glowing

What Richard Says:
Nose: Oaky and hot. Just the slightest hint of cherry syrup.
Palate: Cherry cough syrup, polished oak, peppery, and slightly tannic.
Finish: Warm, oaky, and long. Very dry.
Comments: I think of Knob Creek as the small batch progression from the standard Jim Beam line. I get a lot of the classic Jim Beam flavors but it is drier, a little spicier, and shows a lot more wood. It’s very enjoyable. Like all the bourbons we’re tasting this month, it’s made from the same mashbill as standard Jim Beam. The tasting of all these different styles is an interesting exercise in seeing what aging and warehouse location can do when the wood, water, and recipe are the same.
Rating: Stands Out

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Jim Beam 7 Year

/ / Bourbon, Review / ,

Jim Beam Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Premium Aged Seven Years Old
40% ABV/80 Proof
$15 to $20
Widely Available

What the Distillery Says:
Jim Beam 7 Year Old has been aged and extra 3 years in new charred white oak barrels. Extra time in the barrel gives the bourbon a unique and mellow taste worth the wait. For over 200 years, the Beam family has continued to use the highest quality ingredients in making the world’s finest bourbon.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Cherries, caramel, vanilla.
Palate: Sweeter and smoother than standard JB. All that cherry and vanilla continue on the palate. It’s almost like Red Stag light, but not in a bad way.
Finish: The finish is very short and muted.
Comments: This is a sneaky little booger. It looks almost exactly like it’s 4 year old white label younger brother except for a red cap. Personally, I like this better than both the White and Black Label Jim Beam. You could make an argument that this is watered down Bakers given the same age and formula but they aren’t really the same. I think this is a great value buy.
Rating: Stands Out, Great Value

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Dalmore Cigar Malt Reserve

/ / Highland, Review, Scottish Whisky /

The Dalmore Cigar Malt Reserve Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
44% ABV/88 Proof
$125
Available in select specialty retailers

What the Distillery Says:
Matured for the majority of its life in bespoke Oloroso Matusalem sherry butts and bottled at 44% alcohol by volume, the body and character of this extraordinary expression is the perfect complement to a fine cigar. The sherry cask proportion is 70
percent and 30 percent American white oak.

Color: Deep amber gold in colour with glittering highlights.
Nose: Aromas of orange marmalade, honey and citrus fruits abound in sensual profusion.
Taste: The long years spent in the finest Oloroso sherry wood deliver intense notes of crushed almonds, cinnamon and spice to complete the nose of this remarkable expression.
Finish: On the palate creamy vanilla, toffee and sweet pineapples open, followed by rich mango, crushed pear and kiwi fruits. An aftertaste of unsurpassed elegance.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Sherry, orange, and a consistent savory note that I find in a lot of Dalmore.
Palate: Sweet, nutty, and a little spicy on the back end of the palate.
Finish: That nuttiness from the palate really lingers. Vanilla and spicy oak through end of a long slow finish. I don’t really get any of the fruit but still a very nice finish.
Comments: Apparently, ever since the refresh of the Dalmore portfolio Richard Paterson keeps getting questions about what happened to the old Cigar Malt. Well, this isn’t it but it is very nice. It’s not quite Dalmore at the top of it’s game like The MacKenzie but it’s still a stand out dram. I’ll have to take some more time with this and pair it up with a few cigars.
Rating: Stands Out

We would like to thank Laura with The Baddish Group for providing us a sample for review.

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Highland Park 15 Year

/ / Island, Review, Scottish Whisky /

Highland Park Single Malt Scotch Whisky Aged 15 Years
43% ABV/86 Proof
$65 to $70
Available Worldwide

What the Distillery Says:
First released as a UK exclusive in 2003 and now globally available, Highland Park 15 is a fabulously smooth, easy to drink single malt with a luxuriously light floral flavour and a gentle smokey finish.

Tasting Notes

Appearance: Full golden, clear and bright
Nose: Aromatic smokiness with a hint of camphor
Palate: Rich, initially sweet developing into a dry smokiness
Finish: Rich, long medium sweet then medium dry

Highland Park 15 Year Old has a remarkably complex nose with notes of camphor, peat and citrus fruits and flowers. The drying sensation on the finish leaves a rich smoky feeling and the immediate desire to refill your glass.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Savory and sweet play back on forth over the heather and smoke.
Palate: Very easily drinkable. Honey and floral sweetness (lavender maybe) laid over a smoky oak flavor.
Finish: A little briny, peat, floral smoke, and a little heat transitioning from late palate to early finish.
Comments: An odd thing about this bottling is that on Highland Park’s website and just about every other European mention I’ve seen lists this at 40% ABV while the bottle in front of me is 43%. I’m glad for the discrepancy. I don’t know that it would hold up as well watered down. I’m kind of at odds with this expression. I think the 12 Year Old at about half the price is a great dram at a great price. Is this better? Yes but for about $20 more you can get the 18 Year Old which is superb. I don’t know if I would ever choose this over either of those.
Rating: Stands Out

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Highland Park 12 Year

/ / Island, Review, Scottish Whisky / ,

Highland Park Single Malt Scotch Whisky Aged 12 Years
43% ABV/86 Proof
$35 to $40
Available Worldwide

What the Distillery Says:
The first proprietary bottling of Highland Park single malt Scotch whisky was as a 12 year old in 1979. It remains the core expression of the Highland Park range and is a smooth, balanced single malt, with a rich full flavour and a gentle smokey finish.

Tasting Notes

Appearance: Glowing amber
Nose: Heather-honey sweetness; peaty smokiness
Palate: Rounded smoky sweetness; full malt delivery
Finish: Teasing, heathery, subtle smoke. Delicious

Take your time to appreciate the nose of Highland Park 12 and you’ll discover the characteristic honey sweetness followed by fruit – maybe pineapple, apple or pear. On the palate it is drying and leaves a gentle smokey feeling and a flavour that just keeps on going.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Heather, dew covered wild grass, little hints of smoke, and wisps of sea air.
Palate: The smoke and sweetness dance around each other in the whirlwind.
Finish: Smoky and dry. The finish seems to linger forever.
Comments: I won’t be the first person to tell you that Highland Park is an underrated dram. It’s getting much more recognition lately but it still plays second fiddle to their parent Edrington’s Macallan. I’ve rarely had anything from this distillery that I wouldn’t recommend. This is one of the best 12 year old single malts out there and when you can find it at $35 it’s almost a steal. Stock up and enjoy.
Rating: Stands Out, Great Value

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