Knob Creek Bourbon X Rye whiskey grabs the spotlight in the Kentucky line-up of leaders

Knob Creek has released a once-off marriage of its superb aged bourbon and rye whiskey that is sure to delight fans of the Kentucky whiskey maker

It was only a matter of time before Knob Creek took its two best-selling whiskies and married them as one, and the world paid attention. But don’t dally – according to its makers, this brand-new mashup of bourbon and rye is a once-off affair and definitely worth catching before it’s gone. 

Knob Creek whiskey is one of four US small-batch bourbon brands in the Jim Beam stable, itself owned by Japan’s Suntory Corporation. Aged longer and with more attention to detail than most bourbons, it’s aimed at the international high-end liquor fan as well as the devoted US customer base. 

As well as Knob Creek, Jim Beam owns the Bookers, Bakers and Basil Hayden brands, the latter of which has already experimented with a bourbon and rye blend in the US. This new Knob Creek release aims to go one step further than that bottle and ramps up the flavour and complexity of the bourbon and rye.

Kentucky Straight Bourbon

Knob Creek made its name with its Kentucky straight bourbon 9-year-old release back in 1992. Bottled at 100 proof (50% ABV) it immediately captured the attention of bourbon fans everywhere. Packed with flavour and personality it’s aged longer and at a higher proof than most traditional bourbons, putting it in a niche that lets the brand stand alone among its peers.

It quickly became a benchmark for everything that Knob Creek produces and it has since been joined by 12-, 15- and 18-year-old releases.

In 2012, the whiskey maker poured its first Knob Creek Rye: a seven-year-old whiskey that’s also bottled at 100 proof. It’s got a wonderful balance of sweet and spicy rye character with a high corn mash-bill and signature Knob Creek full flavour.

Knob Creek Bourbon X Rye

This new release marries Knob Creek’s 9-year-old bourbon with its 7-year-old rye in what they describe as a pre-prohibition style that easily captures the imagination. Using deeply charred barrels, they have created a whiskey with real character, allowing the extra aging in the cask to fasten a full body and complex texture to the already popular whiskey inside. 

They used a 70:30 ratio to marry the two, with the bourbon taking the giant’s share, but the balance of both whiskies is so carefully managed that the rye, despite being only 30% of the bottle, still takes a starring role. 

Another departure for the brand is the 113 proof (62.5%) bottling. We’ve become so used to Knob Creek’s 100-proof position that the higher proof, alongside its longer ageing, makes a really interesting proposition.

On the nose, you can expect lots of sweet maple, vanilla and pastry, while the palate comes stuffed with brown sugar, dark fruits and black pepper. There’s lots of oak and char in here, too, creating a proper earthy finish that fans will love.   

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