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Knob Creek Bourbon Aged 18 Years

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8

Bourbon Review: Knob Creek Bourbon Aged 18 Years

We review Knob Creek Bourbon Aged 18 Years, released last year to celebrate 30 years of the Knob Creek whiskey brand from Jim Beam.
  • Ian Arnold, ex-bartender and whisky enthusiast, now navigates the IT world.
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Tasting Notes:

About:
50% ABV. Release number KC001. The 18 Year Old is aged twice as long as Knob Creek’s flagship bourbon, and offers “a complex yet balanced liquid profile” according to the brand.
Appearance:
This has a lovely copper hue to it. It leaves a nice thin coat on the glass that forms long thin legs.
Nose:
Heavy spice on the nose, black pepper, and cinnamon. Hints of vanilla and caramel with a nondescript fruity quality, kind of like fruit cake. Can certainly smell the alcohol content of this as well.
Palate:
This is pretty hot up front and I don’t get much of any flavor at first. It then transitions to a leather and pepper taste with a vanilla extract note behind it. Finish has a kind of menthol quality to it, a bit of mint and a cooling tingle. This fades leaving me with the taste of damp oak and cinnamon. A bit of water opens this up to a lot of what I got on the nose. Much more spice and dried fruit comes through to join the leather and pepper from before.
Finish:
The finish stays pretty much the same, just a bit more mellow.
Comments:
This is not a bourbon for everyone, but there are a few people I can think of that would love this. Certainly a bolder, more austere version of Knob Creek, not quite as sweet of a mid palate as their standard small batch. I don’t know that I would even suggest this for a person who really enjoys Knob Creek Small Batch, but maybe for someone that likes the finish of the small batch.

Editor’s Note: This whiskey was either bought as a sample by The Whiskey Wash or provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. Per our editorial policies, this in no way influenced the outcome of this review.

This review of Knob Creek Bourbon Aged 18 Years was originally published in January 2023, and updated in January 2025.

The History Of Knob Creek Bourbon

I think it’s safe to say for most people the days of following in their parents’ footsteps are over. Not so in the Noe family, descendants of the Beam line with a long history of distilling. That isn’t to say they haven’t each forged their own path in the industry. Today I look at the history of the James B. Beam Distilling Company and the limited edition Knob Creek Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Aged 18 Years.

Knob Creek was started as a premium small batch bourbon brand by then Master Distiller Frederick “Booker” Noe II. Knob Creek is distilled at James B. Beam Distilling Company. Beam Distilling is owned by Suntory Global Spirits, which also owns many other brands, including whiskeys from at least six countries and many other types of spirits beyond that. 

Knob Creek was introduced to the Beam Distilling lineup in 1992, and celebrated 30 years in 2022 with the release of Knob Creek Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Aged 18 Years. While labeled as a limited edition release, they do give it a batch number of KC001, suggesting we may see more releases of 18 year old bourbon from them in the future. 

About The Beam Family

The history of the Jim Beam family is one of distilling, dating back to the 1780s when Jacob Beam moved to Kentucky with his wooden still. The next two generations contributed to the growth of the business until prohibition hit. The business was built back up by James B. Beam (Jim Beam) after prohibition, where he recreated the yeast strains that are still used today.

Booker Noe II grew the brand with the addition of multiple small batch whiskeys, and with the help of Fredrick “Fred” Booker Noe III brought the brands to the world. Booker Noe III is the current master distiller, with Fredrick “Freddie” Booker Noe IV working as a distiller as well.

While I am not the biggest fan of Jim Beam’s standard-release bourbon, I can’t argue their family knows how to distill. Many amazing products come from their distillery. So is this new limited edition a winner? I find it to be a worthwhile addition to the Knob Creek lineup, though it is yet to be seen if it will become a standard or not. 

Tasting Notes: Knob Creek Bourbon Aged 18 Years

Vital Stats: 50% ABV. Release number KC001. 

Appearance: This has a lovely copper hue to it. It leaves a nice thin coat on the glass that forms long thin legs.

Nose: Heavy spice on the nose, black pepper, and cinnamon. Hints of vanilla and caramel with a nondescript fruity quality, kind of like fruit cake. Can certainly smell the alcohol content of this as well.

Palate: This is pretty hot up front and I don’t get much of any flavor at first. It then transitions to a leather and pepper taste with a vanilla extract note behind it. Finish has a kind of menthol quality to it, a bit of mint and a cooling tingle. This fades leaving me with the taste of damp oak and cinnamon. A bit of water opens this up to a lot of what I got on the nose. Much more spice and dried fruit comes through to join the leather and pepper from before. The finish stays pretty much the same, just a bit more mellow.

Ian Arnold

Ian Arnold brings eight years of bartending expertise to the table, having honed his skills in renowned establishments across California, Australia, and Portland. His most recent position behind the bar was at the esteemed Multnomah Whisk(e)y Library. A dedicated member of the Oregon Bartenders' Guild's leadership team, Ian also served as a judge for numerous cocktail competitions. Currently working in the IT field, he continues to delight guests with his bartending prowess. In his leisure time, Ian enjoys playing board games and savoring the complexities of Japanese whisky.

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