Knob Creek Bourbon 25th Anniversary Edition 750ML

Description

Knob Creek Bourbon 25th Anniversary Edition 750ML is a cask strength single barrel Kentucky bourbon bottled between 121.8 and 124.6 proof (60.962.3% ABV). Released to celebrate twenty-five years of the Knob Creek brand, this expression holds a notable distinction: it was the first bourbon in Knob Creek’s history bottled at barrel strength without proofing down or filtering.

Quick Facts: ABV: 60.962.3% (varies by barrel) | Origin: Kentucky, USA | Aged 1213 Years | Distillery: Jim Beam | Cask Strength, Unfiltered, Single Barrel

Production & Heritage

Knob Creek was introduced in 1992 by legendary master distiller Booker Noe as part of Jim Beam’s Small Batch Collection. The brand was named after the Kentucky creek near Abraham Lincoln’s childhood home. For this 25th Anniversary bottling, individual barrels aged between twelve and thirteen years were selected and bottled without filtration or dilution a first for the brand. The mashbill follows Knob Creek’s standard recipe of 77% corn, 13% rye, and 10% malted barley, but the extended aging and full barrel proof delivery set this release apart from every prior expression in the lineup.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Robust vanilla and caramel lead the nose, followed by a slightly smoky undercurrent. Rich oak emerges alongside deeper, darker notes suggesting well-worn leather and toasted grain.

Taste: The entry is immediately full-bodied, with deep vanilla sweetness giving way to dark chocolate on the mid-palate. The rye component asserts itself through baking spices and a touch of cinnamon, while a surprising nuttiness rounds out the center. Apple and tobacco notes surface as the bourbon opens up, layered beneath that persistent chocolate-vanilla core.

Finish: Long and warming, with a measured burn consistent with its barrel-proof nature. Smoky tobacco and cinnamon linger well after each sip, gradually fading into dry oak tannins.

How to Drink Knob Creek 25th Anniversary

Neat with a few drops of water is the ideal serve the water opens up complexity without sacrificing the barrel-proof intensity that defines this release. For those who prefer cocktails, the high proof and robust flavor profile stand up exceptionally well in spirit-forward drinks. An Old Fashioned benefits from the dark chocolate and vanilla backbone without losing character under sugar and bitters. A Manhattan works because the deep oak and spice hold their own against sweet vermouth. A Boulevardier pairs well since the bourbon’s smoky richness provides ample counterweight to Campari’s bitterness.

Best For

• Commemorating a milestone occasion with a limited release bourbon
• Gifting a bourbon collector who values first-of-its-kind bottlings
• Side-by-side tasting alongside standard Knob Creek Single Barrel to explore cask strength differences
• Adding a barrel-proof anchor to a Kentucky bourbon shelf

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Knob Creek 25th Anniversary taste like? This bourbon delivers a rich, full-bodied profile dominated by dark chocolate, vanilla, and baking spices, with tobacco and apple notes emerging mid-palate and a long, smoky finish that carries a pleasant warmth from its barrel-proof strength.

How does Knob Creek 25th Anniversary compare to Knob Creek Single Barrel? Both share the same 77/13/10 mashbill, but the 25th Anniversary is bottled at cask strength (121.8124.6 proof) rather than the standard Single Barrel’s 120 proof, and its 1213 year age statement exceeds the Single Barrel’s 9-year baseline. Reviewers consistently note the 25th Anniversary delivers deeper oak influence, more concentrated flavor, and greater overall complexity.

Is Knob Creek 25th Anniversary good for sipping neat? Absolutely this bourbon was designed for neat consumption, and its unfiltered, cask strength character rewards slow, deliberate sipping, though a splash of water can help tame the proof and reveal additional nuance.

Where is Knob Creek 25th Anniversary made? It is produced at the Jim Beam distillery in Clermont, Kentucky, one of the largest and oldest bourbon distilling operations in the state. The distillery has been producing bourbon in the Kentucky region since 1795.

What foods pair well with Knob Creek 25th Anniversary? Dark chocolate truffles complement the bourbon’s cocoa notes directly. Smoked brisket or pulled pork echoes its tobacco and oak character. Aged cheddar or Gruyre cheese provides a savory counterpoint to the vanilla sweetness. Pecan pie mirrors the nutty undertones, and a charcuterie board with cured meats and dried fruits offers broad textural contrast.

What sizes does Knob Creek 25th Anniversary come in? The 25th Anniversary Edition was released in the standard 750ml bottle size.

Is Knob Creek 25th Anniversary worth the price? As a limited, first-of-its-kind cask strength release with 1213 years of aging, the 25th Anniversary positions firmly in the premium tier for Knob Creek and offers significant depth beyond the standard lineup Whisky Advocate reviewer Fred Minnick rated samples “very high,” reinforcing its standing as a serious barrel-proof bourbon.

Why Knob Creek 25th Anniversary?

This was the bottling that proved Knob Creek could compete in the barrel-proof single barrel category a segment previously dominated by other Jim Beam Small Batch siblings like Booker’s. As the brand’s first unfiltered, cask strength release after twenty-five years of proofed-down bottlings, it represented a genuine turning point in how drinkers perceived Knob Creek’s ceiling. The 1213 year aging window and single barrel variance give each bottle its own fingerprint, while the 77/13/10 mashbill delivers a richness and spice balance that rewards patient, attentive drinking. For collectors and bourbon enthusiasts, this anniversary edition remains a benchmark release in the Knob Creek catalog.