Review #: 165
Description: Knob Creek Single Barrel: Goody Goody Liquors
Spirit: Bourbon
Background: Jim Beam’s single barrel line from their Knob Creek brand. Their private barrel program has really hit it off in recent years, with a 9 year minimum and many barrels coming in around 15 years (though they seem to be dwindling in numbers). This one was distilled on March 19th, 2008, aged in warehouse W-E, floor F-06, rick R-05 before being selected by Goody Goody Liquors for bottling on June 21st, 2019. I was provided this sample blind by a friend, with him revealing the contents after I had submitted my tasting notes.
Distillery – Jim Beam
Bottler – Jim Beam
Brand – Knob Creek
Selection – Goody Goody Liquors
ABV – 60%
Age – 11 Years 3 Months
Nose – Some dark fruit, fresh oak, strong ethanol. Leaning bourbon but some youthfulness is there
Taste – This is aggressive as it attacks the tongue. Cough medicine, cardboard, thin vanilla, burnt nuts, very bitter and very hot
Finish – Some nuttiness and drying leather, but so hot and burns far too long
Guess: American (bourbon?), around the 2 year mark, around 50%, guessing maybe from Texas?
Score: 3
Would I buy a bottle? No
Thoughts: Well, the nose wasn’t terrible, but the first sip was just an aggressive punch in the tongue. Just a searing hot mess in a different way from high proof spirits. This stuff could use some work. Post Reveal: Wow, was not expecting that. There’s a sharp heat to it that just killed my tongue. I went to my 2 bottles of KC single barrels to make sure something wasn’t wrong with me and they did not have it. This one might need a revisit but man was it not jiving with me.
I did revisit this and still, it wasn’t as bad but wasn’t good. I originally gave it a 2. I’m surprised that this had so many negative notes for a brand I typically love but, such is the life with single barrels.