Knob Creek
Knob Creek Single Barrel Select Rye Review
Knob Creek Single Barrel Select Rye Review
Quick Facts
- What it is: Knob Creek • Single Barrel Select Rye • Kentucky straight rye whiskey
- Proof/ABV: 115 Proof (57.5% ABV)
- Age: Approximately 7 years
- Mash bill: Undisclosed (believed to be just above the 51% rye minimum with a significant corn component)
- Typical price: $45–$65 MSRP
“Is This for Me?” (30-Second Fit Check)
- You’ll probably like this if… you want a bold, full-proof rye with serious barrel character and spice, enjoy single barrel expressions where each bottle tells a different story, or are looking for a step up from the standard Knob Creek Rye with more intensity and complexity.
- Maybe skip if… you prefer a gentler, lower-proof sipper, are new to rye whiskey and want something more approachable, or dislike the heat that comes with 115 proof.
Flavor Profile at a Glance
- Sweetness: 6/10
- Rye spice (pepper/baking spice): 8/10
- Herbal/mint: 6/10
- Fruit (citrus → dark, with prominent candied orange): 6/10
- Oak/vanilla: 7/10
- Body (light → full): 8/10
- Heat (alcohol warmth): 7/10
- Finish length (short → long): 8/10
What Knob Creek Single Barrel Select Rye Tastes Like
- Nose: Candied orange and honey greet you first, followed by waves of dill, cinnamon, and savory cloves. Charred oak sits underneath it all, with rye bread earthiness and a peppery spice that builds as the whiskey opens up in the glass. Despite the 115 proof, the nose is inviting rather than aggressive—sweet and spicy notes playing off each other in a way that keeps drawing you back for another sniff.
- Palate: The first thing you notice is the mouthfeel—thick, oily, and coating in a way that the standard Knob Creek Rye simply can’t match. Sweet orange peel and caramel arrive first, then rye spice, black pepper, and tobacco build through the mid-palate with real authority. Herbs weave through the heavier flavors—dill, sage, and a hint of mint—adding a layer of complexity that keeps each sip interesting. The high proof provides backbone without becoming a burn.
- Finish: Long, warm, and satisfying. Rye grain character carries through with black pepper and charred oak that lingers well past the swallow. The sweetness fades first, leaving behind a pleasant drying spice and a gentle herbal quality that invites another pour. This is where the single barrel aging really shows its hand among rye whiskey expressions—the finish has genuine depth and staying power.
Best Ways to Enjoy
- Neat: The best way to experience what makes this single barrel special—the oily mouthfeel, layered spice, and long finish all shine at full proof. Give it a few minutes in the glass to open up.
- With a splash of water: A few drops tame the heat and unlock the herbal and citrus notes hiding beneath the spice. The candied orange becomes more pronounced, and the dill and mint come forward nicely.
- On ice: Handles ice better than most 115-proof whiskeys—the bold flavors hold up well, and the sweetness comes forward as the spice mellows. A great warm-weather option.
-
Cocktail Fit:
- Manhattan: 5/5
- Old Fashioned: 5/5
- Whiskey Sour: 4/5
- Boulevardier: 5/5
- Simple serving tip: Pour it neat, let it sit for 5 minutes, and take your first sip before adding water. The evolution from full proof to slightly diluted reveals how the single barrel character shifts—it’s worth experiencing both.
Price & Value Context
- Typical price range: $45–$65
- Value note: At around $55 average, this may be one of the best values in the entire rye whiskey category. You’re getting a single barrel, cask-strength-adjacent rye with 7 years of aging for roughly the same price as many standard small batch releases. Competing single barrel ryes from brands like WhistlePig command two to three times the price, making this a genuine standout for quality-to-dollar ratio.
Bottle Transparency
- Distillery info: Distilled at Jim Beam Distillery (Clermont, Kentucky), part of the Beam Suntory family.
- Barrel details: Single barrel selection aged approximately 7 years in new charred American oak barrels. Each barrel is hand-selected by the distillery or retail partner, meaning flavor profiles vary from barrel to barrel.
- Filtration: Chill filtered.
- Production notes: Uses the same undisclosed mashbill as the standard Knob Creek Rye, believed to be just above the 51% rye minimum with a high corn component. Bottled at a fixed 115 proof rather than true cask strength. Available nationwide as a permanent offering, with retailer-specific barrel picks also common.
Knob Creek Single Barrel Select Rye takes everything that works about the standard Knob Creek rye profile and dials it up with higher proof and the unique character of a single barrel. The result is a bolder, more complex whiskey with serious depth—thick mouthfeel, layered spice, and a finish that goes on and on. For rye enthusiasts looking for more intensity without paying premium single barrel prices, this expression consistently delivers above its weight class.
The RyeCentral Knob Creek Single Barrel Select Rye Review
Welcome to our rye whiskey review of Knob Creek Single Barrel Select Rye—a 115-proof, single barrel expression that has quietly built a reputation as one of the best values in American rye whiskey. While flashier bottles grab headlines, this unassuming Knob Creek offering has earned a devoted following among enthusiasts who care more about what’s in the glass than what’s on the label.
The nose signals immediately that this is a different animal from the standard Knob Creek Rye. Where the small batch version is pleasant but restrained, the Single Barrel Select opens with a confident wave of candied orange, honey, and baking spice that fills the glass. Charred oak and rye bread earthiness sit underneath, and as it opens up, savory notes of dill and clove emerge alongside a building peppery heat. It’s complex enough to reward patience, and the interplay between sweet and spicy aromatics is genuinely engaging.
On the palate, the 115 proof announces itself with an impressively thick, oily mouthfeel that coats the tongue and carries flavors broadly. Sweet orange peel and caramel lead, but rye spice, black pepper, and tobacco build quickly through the mid-palate. The Knob Creek mashbill’s corn component provides a sweetness base that balances the aggressive spice, while herbal notes of dill, sage, and mint add layers of complexity. For 115 proof, it’s remarkably well-integrated—the alcohol serves the flavors rather than overwhelming them.
The finish may be this whiskey’s greatest strength. It’s long, warm, and genuinely evolving—rye grain character and black pepper carry through the initial wave, then charred oak and drying tannins take over, leaving a pleasant spice that lingers well after you’ve set down the glass. The sweetness fades gracefully rather than abruptly, and the herbal quality provides a clean, satisfying conclusion that has you reaching for the bottle again.
Our unbiased rye whiskey review concludes that Knob Creek Single Barrel Select Rye is a serious overachiever. At $45–65, it delivers single barrel complexity, barrel-proof intensity, and a flavor profile that can stand toe-to-toe with ryes at twice the price. It’s exceptional in an Old Fashioned or Manhattan, equally compelling neat, and versatile enough to work on ice on a warm evening. The only caveat is barrel-to-barrel variation—that’s the nature of single barrels—but the floor on quality is impressively high, and great picks can be transcendent.
Community Tasting Notes: Crowd Wisdom
Top 5 Community-Reported Flavors
- Rye spice and black pepper
- Candied orange and citrus
- Charred oak
- Caramel and vanilla
- Dill and herbs
Community Score: 4.0 (based on 245 ratings)
Ratings Distribution
Most ratings cluster between 3.7–4.4, with the community broadly agreeing this is one of the best rye values on the market. Higher ratings tend to come from those who found an exceptional barrel pick, while lower scores often reflect the natural barrel-to-barrel variation inherent in single barrel products. Enthusiasts consistently praise the balance of bold spice and sweet caramel at this proof point.
Tried Knob Creek Single Barrel Select Rye? We Need Your Rye Whiskey Review!
Join the growing RyeCentral.com community and share your honest tasting notes on this single barrel Knob Creek expression. Since every barrel is different, your review helps fellow enthusiasts understand the range of flavors this product can deliver and find their next great pour.
Be part of the first dedicated Rye Whiskey Review Community built to connect taste profiles with the perfect pour.
Pros
Cons
| Exceptional value—single barrel, 115-proof rye at $45–$65 is hard to beat | Barrel-to-barrel variation means inconsistent flavor profiles across bottles |
| Bold, layered flavor profile with thick oily mouthfeel and long finish | 115 proof may be too hot for newer whiskey drinkers |
| Excels in cocktails—stands up to mixers without getting lost | The high corn mashbill may not satisfy purists looking for grain-forward rye character |
| Widely available as a permanent release with retailer barrel picks adding variety | Chill filtered, which some enthusiasts consider a drawback at this proof level |
| Balanced heat that serves the flavors rather than masking them | Retailer store picks can sell out quickly, making great barrels hard to find twice |
FAQs About Knob Creek Single Barrel Select Rye
-
How does Knob Creek Single Barrel Select Rye compare to the standard Knob Creek Rye?
The Single Barrel Select is significantly bolder—at 115 proof versus 100 proof, it delivers a thicker mouthfeel, more intense spice, and a longer finish. The single barrel selection also means each bottle has unique character rather than the blended consistency of the small batch version. Think of the standard as the everyday sipper and the Single Barrel Select as the enthusiast’s upgrade.
-
Is Knob Creek Single Barrel Select Rye the same as the Cask Strength version?
Not exactly. The Single Barrel Select is bottled at a fixed 115 proof, while the newer Cask Strength Single Barrel Select is bottled at the barrel’s natural proof (typically ranging from 100–120+ proof) and is unfiltered. The Cask Strength version is generally harder to find and priced slightly higher.
-
Why do Knob Creek Single Barrel Select Rye bottles taste different from each other?
Because each bottle comes from a single, individually selected barrel rather than a blend of many barrels, natural variations in barrel placement, wood grain, and aging conditions create unique flavor profiles. This is a feature, not a bug—it’s what makes single barrel whiskey exciting and worth exploring across different picks.
-
What cocktails work best with Knob Creek Single Barrel Select Rye?
The 115 proof and bold flavor profile make this an outstanding cocktail base. It excels in a Manhattan or Boulevardier where the spice and oak stand up beautifully to sweet vermouth, and it makes a killer Old Fashioned with enough backbone to shine through sugar and bitters. The higher proof means the Knob Creek character holds up even with dilution from ice.
-
Is Knob Creek Single Barrel Select Rye worth the premium over the standard?
At roughly $10–$20 more than the standard Knob Creek Rye, the Single Barrel Select offers a significant upgrade in proof, complexity, and finish length. Most enthusiasts consider it one of the best value propositions in American rye whiskey, and many rate it as their go-to daily rye for both sipping and cocktails.
Important: RyeCentral.com Does Not Sell Alcohol
This review is provided for informational and educational purposes only. RyeCentral.com is a review and community platform—we do not sell, distribute, or ship any alcoholic beverages. To purchase Knob Creek Single Barrel Select Rye, please visit your local licensed retailer or an authorized online spirits marketplace.
