Knob Creek Rye

Not sure why I haven’t posted about Knob Creek Rye in the past, but I snagged a bottle the last time it went on sale at NCABC. The price of admission at the time was $32, but it can often be found for a few dollars less. This is a 100 proof rye which is an alcohol level I prefer, not too hot, not too mild. The aroma has what you want out of a rye and is filled with rye spice, brown sugar, and light black pepper coupled to a very nice oak presence. The flavor is similar, but contains a syrupy peach not, more rye spice, light pepper, and oak. The finish lasts very nice with peaches and rye fading slowing into the aftertaste. The alcohol is restrained from start to finish with only a mild warming post consumption. This is a very nice rye and should be one to keep in the bar. There are rye whiskeys which are more complex and with a higher price point and those destined for mixing at a lower price point. This one exists right in the middle. If you haven’t had it, pick up a bottle and give it a whirl.

Oban Little Bay Single Malt Scotch Whisky

The first time I heard about Oban Little Bay was when a person from NC was complaining their local ABC would not bring the bottle. They would only get it if he agreed to purchase a case. Fast forward a few years and now Little Bay can be found in many ABC store, but the price of admission is $78. At that price I was not willing to give it a whirl. Somewhere along the way I happened upon a bottle for around $40 so I knew I had to bring it home. At 86 proof (43% abv) this is a restrained bottle of Scotch. The aroma presents with chocolate, candy, light citrus, spice, leather, and oak. The flavor also has chocolate, citrus, light smoke, leather, oak, spice, and breadcrust. The finish fades into light alcohol with light chocolate and leather with subtle sweetness long and pleasantly into the aftertaste. At $40 this is a no brainer. At NCABC prices it is a maybe. It’s a very nice bottle with good complexity, but by the time I get to 80 beans it’s time to take off the training wheels. This could use a boost in complexity to draw those dollars out of my wallet. If you find it at a midpoint price I’d say snag it, it is quite tasty!

Hatozaki Small Batch

I happened upon a bottle of Hatozaki Small Batch at Costco with a sub $30 price point so I figured why not. Imagine my shock when it showed up on NC at $60 per bottle. The alcohol level is 46%. Anyway, knowing this was a Japanese Whiskey I expected it to be very similar to a Speyside Scotch and it was. Unfortunately it was more like a little brother than a twin. The aroma presented as floral and fruity with peaches (think canned peaches), slight oak, hint of sherry, and a light bit of citrus coupled to restrained alcohol. The flavor was similar with slightly sweet peaches, light pepper spice, low oak, hints of leather, and a mild presence of alcohol. The finish was peaches, pepper spice, and light alcohol fading into the aftertaste. The bottle is tasty, but a bit boring and lacking in complexity. At the $30 I paid my thought was I would not want to pay more for this level of complexity. At $60 I would be upset at the price of admission. So if you want to give this one a whirl I suggest you check to see if your Costco might have a deal. Otherwise I don’t think I’d spend the money for this level of complexity.

Knob Creek Quarter Oak

It took quite some time to locate a bottle of Knob Creek Quarter Oak after it was released. I had seen it on the shelf and neglected to purchase a bottle. The next time I checked it was sold out. Eventually I happened upon a bottle and so I knew it was time to bring it home. The Bourbon is created by taking four year old juice which had been aged in 13 gallon quarter casks and blending with standard KC juice. The result is supposedly a Bourbon with more oak due to the reduced size of the cask. At 100 proof this limited release Bourbon isn’t a high proof and with a price point of 50 beans it isn’t going to break the bank. Many had raved about how good Quarter Oak was so I had high expectations when I poured a glass. The aroma was filled with honey, oak, and pepper spice coupled to brown sugar and cinnamon with a hint of leather. The flavor was pepper, cinnamon, oak, honey, brown sugar, and leather with the leather lasting far into the aftertaste. Also present at the end was oak and brown sugar with pepper and a lasting presence of alcohol. While certainly tasty, I was expecting more from this bottle. The price of admission was affordable, but at $15 more than standard KC, I might be inclined to just buy KC. If you can find a bottle, snag it and give it a whirl if you are a KC fan. Otherwise don’t get too broken up if you missed it.

Hancock’s President’s Reserve Single Barrel

Hancock’s President’s Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey is a Buffalo Trace product which hits the glass at 88.9 proof. Many say it is the same mash bill as Blanton’s, but actually better and for a lower price. Not sure what I paid, but it can often be located for $35-40 in some places. On the secondary market it can bring twice to three times that amount. The cork separated from the wood so I had to glue the cork back into place, but it did not affect the flavor of the Bourbon. At first I was slightly disappointed with the flavor, but over time it grew on me. The aroma was brown sugar, grapes, candy, slight spice, and low alcohol. The flavor was more brown sugar, cinnamon spice, grape, candy, and low alcohol. The aftertaste was lingering spice and brown sugar and a smooth alcohol presence. The complexity was lower than I would expect, but at the $35 price point just about right. If you happen upon a bottle at a reasonable price, pick it up. Otherwise no reason to go out of your way to try to locate.

Early Times Bottled-In-Bond

Not sure where I happened to pick up Early Times Bottled-In-Bond, but I’ll let the cat out of the bag early and say I am sure glad I did. Of course it rings in at 100 proof and in most markets the 1 liter bottle is under $30. The aroma is filled with a beautiful presence of leather, deep caramel, oak, brown sugar, and citrus. The flavor has a chocolate note, with oak, caramel, brown sugar, more citrus, and a light lasting spice note. The finish is pleasant chocolate and caramel with a lasting low warming of alcohol just enough to let you know you are alive. This bottle is a breath of fresh air and should not be passed if you get an opportunity to purchase. Will it blow your socks off your feet? Probably not, but it is great neat and any Boubon snob would be glad to have in their glass. Go get some and thank me later!