Knob Creek Introduces Cask Strength Single Barrels

For the past handful of years Knob Creek’s 120 proof single barrel store picks have been sought after by bourbon enthusiasts for their bold flavor and relative value. Now, fans will be able to pick up bottles of Knob Creek bourbon and rye whiskey, uncut, unfiltered, and bottled at cask strength.

“The addition of our Cask Strength Select offering delivers the bold, full-flavored character they love, now in its purest form: uncut, unfiltered, and bottled straight from the barrel,” Suntory’s American whiskey brand ambassador Tim Heuisler tells Food & Wine. 

Knob Creek’s Single Barrel Select bottlings became a hot commodity in the bourbon community due to their higher proof (bottled at 120 instead of 100 proof) and, at times, higher age statement. The new cask strength offers retailers and consumers the option of Knob Creek at an even higher proof, and without filtration or dilution, potentially allowing for greater variation between barrels.

“With rising interest in high-proof whiskey and deeply nuanced expressions, Cask Strength Select lets us deliver something even more distinctive and personal in every bottle,” Heuisler says.

Previously, all Knob Creek single barrel bourbons were bottled at 120 proof, and the ryes at 115 proof. Now, retailers can sample and select their own barrels, bottling them at their exact proof. After selecting a barrel, the distillery will bottle it at cask strength, without filtration or dilution. Due to the nature of whiskey maturation, each barrel will have a different ABV, but the whiskeys will be bottled at approximately 110 to 130 proof for the bourbon and 100 to 120 proof for the rye.

While each barrel has its own unique tasting notes, fans of Knob Creek’s whiskeys can anticipate a broadly similar, though stronger, aromatic and flavor profile compared to the standard expressions. For the bourbon, expect similar notes of slightly smoky oak, caramel, and hazelnut, while the rye will feature notes of rye spice alongside sweet oak.

For bar teams and liquor store owners interested in selecting a private single barrel for their establishment, the James B. Beam Distilling Co. is offering a unique barrel selection experience. This experience includes tasting whiskey directly from the barrels in the distillery’s warehouse K, along with dinner at the distillery’s on-site restaurant, The Kitchen Table.

The cask strength single barrel selection process is now open to retailers. Interested parties can inquire with the James B. Beam Distilling Private Barrel Club. Both the single-barrel cask-strength bourbon and rye have a suggested retail price of $70.