Stands Out

Knob Creek 15 Year Old
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

50% ABV
$100
Website

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

What the Distillery Says

Knob Creek® Bourbon is excited to announce the return of its award-winning limited edition Knob Creek 15 Year Old. Originally released in 2020, this liquid further elevates Booker Noe’s vision to recreate the fullest flavors characteristic of pre-prohibition style bourbon. Knob Creek has boldly expanded with this extra aged Knob Creek® 15 Year Old Bourbon, their most mature age statement to-date.

To deliver such an extraordinary product that is bottled at 100 proof, barrels were pulled from prime locations within Knob Creek’s Kentucky warehouses that cater to advanced aging, which is essential to the decade and a half maturation process.

This extended journey over fifteen years allows for the bourbon to mature in such a way that truly highlights the flavors of smooth caramel and toffee, perfectly paired with toasted oak and light leather, all while maintaining the unmistakable full flavor of Knob Creek. Its flavor is rich and hearty, reflecting the true maturity of the liquid, that can only come with age.

TASTING NOTES
Knob Creek 15 Year Old is a full-bodied bourbon that is perfect sipped straight, cooled slightly with an ice cube or used in your favorite food or cocktail recipe.
COLOR: Rich gold and bronze
AROMA: Strong caramelized oak followed by hints of sweet vanilla, ripened fruit and baking spices
TASTE: Smooth caramel and toffee paired with toasted oak and light leather
FINISH: Warming spices with a touch of floral and cherry

What Gary Says

Nose:  Oak with worn leather, roasted caramel, subtle baking spices, boiled peanuts, cherries, hint of citrus zest with rickhouse must.
Palate:  Oaky with dark chocolate, toffee, caramel, cinnamon, peanut brittle and honey.
Finish:  Moderate in length, dry with oak, vanilla and pepper.
Comments:  This is one where time in the glass really helps it out a lot – when I first poured, it came across a tad hot but stepping away for 10+ minutes really opened it up. To be honest, 15 years is usually past my sweet spot when it comes to bourbon, as the nature of the spirit just has more oak than I particularly like. Some water tames that a bit, but only a bit. I didn’t have any of the Knob Creek 12 year to sample next to, but I’m certain I prefer that one over this (and honestly, not sure if I don’t personally prefer the 9 yr over this). Now if you prefer more oak in your bourbon, and like Knob Creek – than this might be right in your wheelhouse (it isn’t what I’d call over-oaked given its age).

Rating: Stands Out

O.H. Ingram River Aged Straight Bourbon Whiskey

52.5% ABV
$70
Website

We would like to thank Brown Water Spirits LLC and The Strategy Group for sending us a sample to review.

What the Distillery Says

“At 105 proof, our wheated mashbill truly shines in this bourbon. The result is a sweet, bold profile with a lingering yet smooth finish.”
– Founder Hank Ingram

O.H. Ingram River Aged is the only whiskey in the world aged inside a proprietary floating rickhouse. Moored on the Mississippi River in Ballard County, Kentucky, Ingram River Aged is matured in a way that no landlocked rickhouse can accomplish. The dramatic rise and fall of the Mighty Mississippi, along with intense temperature and humidity swings, provoke an intense interaction between barrel and spirit and a whiskey like no other. The rickhouse is moored at the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers where the rushing water ensures this whiskey never stops working, creating a mature taste well beyond its years. You can see full details about the process here.

The first expression in the Ingram River Aged Series, Ingram River Aged Straight Whiskey, formally launched in October of 2020, followed by Ingram River Aged Straight Rye in December 2020 and Ingram River Aged Flagship Bourbon in August 2021. Now, Ingram River Aged Straight Bourbon Whiskey joins the fleet.
Tasting Notes:
On the Nose: Apples, cherries, oak, floral, honey
Mouthfeel: Viscous, warm
Palate: Citrus, almond, cinnamon spice, oak
Finish: A medium finish with vanilla, caramelized sugar and hints of leather

What Gary Says

Nose:  Caramel, vanilla wafers, graham cracker, toasted oak, black cherry and toffee.
Palate:  Creamy mouthfeel with rich caramel, vanilla, milk chocolate, toffee, raw almonds, nutmeg, orange and cinnamon.
Finish:  Moderately long with vanilla, honey, cinnamon and pepper.
Comments:  A really delicious bourbon! Nice mouthfeel, and the bottling proof is spot on (while I am a fan of ‘bottled in bond’, in my experience those bottled a couple points above that really seem to hit the mark). Some water thickens this up nicely and brings out more chocolate and tapioca pudding notes. This is only the 2nd whiskey I’ve tried from O.H.Ingram, but far and away my favorite!

Rating: Stands Out

Booker’s “Noe Strangers Batch” 2021-04
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

6 Years, 6 Months, 12 Days
62.75% ABV
$90
Website

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

What the Distillery Says:

The final release in the Booker’s® Bourbon 2021 Collection is Booker’s Batch 2021-04 ‘Noe Strangers Batch.’ This batch celebrates the genuine, social nature of 6th Generation Master Distiller Booker Noe, and the way he could turn a stranger into a friend for life in no time.

Booker’s way of making friends was second nature to him. When Booker took a liking to the products that a salesman was selling, he would call his wife and say, “Set an extra plate at the table, I’m inviting this salesman to dinner!” In another instance, Booker was invited to a rally for the Blue Knights® Motorcycle Club, an international brotherhood of active and retired law enforcement officers who share a passion for motorcycle riding. There he struck up a conversation with some of the members, and the next day, he invited more than 300 of them over for lunch. His knack for making friends carried into his work as well. In Kentucky and out on the road, Booker wouldn’t leave an event until he shook hands with everyone that wanted to talk to him. And just like that, after shaking hands and a quick conversation, they’d become a fan – and a friend – for life.

Booker taught his son, 7th Generation Master Distiller Fred Noe, to ‘treat others how he would want to be treated’ — a lesson that the Noe family holds true to this day. Like they always say at the distillery: come as friends, leave as family.

Booker’s “Noe Strangers Batch” has a nice color coming from the time it rested in charred white oak barrels. The aroma has vanilla and brown spice, with a sweetness that continues upon the first sip. The initial heat isn’t overwhelming and leaves a taste that’s balanced with a long and warm finish, perfect for the colder months ahead.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Caramel, vanilla, dark chocolate, oak, slightly burnt peanut brittle and baking spices.
Palate:  Chocolate brownies, caramel, peanut butter, vanilla, honey, cinnamon and cracked pepper.
Finish:  Moderately long with oak, cocoa and pepper spice.
Comments:  I’ve lost count at this point, but this is another really solid Booker’s batch¹. It could be just the holidays, but I got more peanut brittle/butter than I usually do – but don’t have a line-up to side-by-side (just comparing my notes from prior batches). This also takes water well, keeping a thick mouthfeel and tamping the pepper spice while keeping that gooey caramel goodness.

Rating: Stands Out

¹Full disclosure – I have had a batch of Booker’s that I didn’t care for.  I’m not 100% certain of the details (can’t find my notes), but remember my rationale for buying it.  Batch C07-A-12 back in 2014 was higher proof than normal (130.4) and older than you typically see (7 years, 8 months).  Coming after the first roundtable batch (2013-6) which was the best batch of Booker’s I’d had (at that point), I thought that more proof AND age must make this even better, right!  Wrong.  But I digress – my point being that in recent years, while some have griped about the age dropping from what it once was (typically over 7 yrs old), I think that the consistency has improved while maintaining a solid, quality barrel proof bourbon.  – and the quality has been solid.