9 years

Knob Creek takes its name from the creek that ran behind Abraham Lincoln's childhood home in Kentucky. When Booker Noe, the legendary master distiller at Jim Beam, created this brand, he aimed for a pre-Prohibition style of bourbon—bold, uncompromising, and full-bodied. This 9-year-old is produced in Clermont, Kentucky, using a high-corn mashbill (75–77%) that builds a sweet, substantial foundation.

Matured in new, charred American oak casks—the bourbon standard that here yields a rich mouthfeel and pronounced oak tannins—and bottled at 50% ABV, this whisky holds nothing back. You get the full spirit as it was meant to be.

On the nose: honeyed roasted nuts, caramel, vanilla, and dried apricot, with hints of tobacco leaf. The palate is sweet and full-bodied, showing earth, wood spice, and light smoke as it opens. The finish lingers warm and glowing. This is straightforward bourbon craft—no embellishment, just balance and substance at a price that punches well above its weight.