Knob Creek Nicholas Barrel Reserve #4 Select Bourbon (120 Proof)

If you want to know how I get to pick out these Private Reserve single barrels, I’ll let you in on the process. The master distiller will select his favorite 20 or 30 barrels for all of us “one’s” to select from. Obviously the first “one” to select will get the best of the best. This has been our exact situation the past few times when I selected our Knob Creek single barrel of bourbon with Master Distiller Fred Noe.

I jump at every chance I can to grab one of these barrels for our Bourbon Buyers Club and I love going down to Kentucky to do it. They pull out all the stops, and we taste as many samples there as I do anywhere.

After nearly 30 samples, I stumbled upon this latest barrel and knew I had to bring it back to New Jersey. This juice was insane. This one came from Floor 6 and Rick 73. She was born on January 9th, 2013 and was bottled back in July. I’m thrilled with how this is drinking right out of the gates. I can’t imagine this one will be around very long.

This has a ton of energy and inviting aromas that just flood right out of the bottle. You’re greeted right away to a big burst of toffee, freshly baked banana bread, with toasted wheat, and even a splash of chocolate. There are some secondary really nice spiced notes that really compliment the dried fruit and brown sugar flavors. It’s incredibly smooth with a creamy middle and a finish that gives you that unmistakable warm “Kentucky Hug” that wraps around you nice and tight. But even at 120 Proof, you can barely feel any of the heat.