Beam Suntory Announces Knob Creek Quarter Oak Bourbon

Knob Creek has announced the limited release of a new spirit titled Knob Creek Quarter Oak. This new bourbon uses a secondary finishing approach to bring out enhance the influence of oak (more on this later).

This new version takes Knob Creek's Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey and finishes it for a minimum of four years in quarter cask, American oak barrels. This extra step increases the amount of contact between the whiskey and wood which enhances the oak taste. A small amount the secondarily finished whiskey is then mixed with Knob Creek Bourbon to create the final product. So in essence, it's regular Knob Creek mixed with a higher oak tasting version of Knob Creek to create Knob Creek Quarter Oak.

Master Distiller Fred Noe says:

"When Dad created Knob Creek in the early 90s, he wanted to bring back the big, bold flavors that bourbon offered before the days of Prohibition. Dad loved to experiment in his quest for flavor, and I like to think we carry on that same spirit today with releases like this. Finishing our full-flavored liquid in quarter casks delivers a really nice, deepened wood flavor to the bourbon our fans enjoy."

Knob Creek Quarter Oak comes in at 100 proof (50% alcohol) and has an MSRP of $49.99 + tax for a 750ml bottle. Availability is nationwide! The tasting notes are:

Nose: A blend of brown sweets, char, and toasted oak with hints of dried fruits
Taste: Sweet, heavy oak with background notes of char, dried fruits and brown spices
Finish: Slightly sweet charred oak with a lingering dryness

Our Take

I like that Knob Creek is experimenting with different techniques. I also love that this is available Nationwide and comes in a reasonable price. Since this is a limited release, I recommend picking up a bottle if you come across it and I'm excited to give this a try. If you grab a bottle, drop a comments below on your thoughts.

Source: Beam Suntory