Good point of view! I’m really liking my bottle! However for the price the Knob Creek 12 yr has less oak and I can get three bottles! Love them both! Also my Knob Creek store pick at 70 bucks is awesome! Cheers
Honestly to me it is very hard to beat the 12 year. I have tried the 15 yr Knob Creek and was a bit disappointed. Where the 12 year was very balanced and had a great mouth feel and coating the 15 had more oak to the point of having a bit of a "wet oak" aftertaste and a drier finish. I have not had the pleasure of trying the 18 yr but I'm afraid it will be more of the 15 year profile. I just feel there is a limit to how long you can put whiskey in a first run charred oak barrel.
This is what's so great about Chad and Sara. They didn't agree on this one, but they drop so much knowledge and variety of opinion without stepping on each other's toes to give a heartfelt review. I appreciate a lot of podcasters and reviewers, but as the Carly Simon song says, Nobody does it better.
Great review. I'd like to see this with less water as well. Y'all are a fun Bourbon couple and offer some great expert input for sure. Nice nails Sara. Nice shirt Chad.
Considering MSRP is less than $10 a year of aging, it’s priced quite fair by today’s standards. It’s the crooks that up charge by insane amounts that piss me off.
Found it in Kentucky for $200 so why not. I think Chad's comments were spot on. A great nose and color, easy drinker oak profile but not off putting. Very pleasant and enjoyable since I like some oak. It would be a great bottle if it cost less. It reminds me of debating Elijah Craig 18 at 90 proof. With the current bottle inflation and due to its rarity, I would buy it at $200 or less. These bottles will be more expensive on secondary very soon. Enjoyed seeing Chad and Sara at Bourbon on the Banks. And letting me buy the display crystal glen cairn glasses! Cheers
I have been looking to find this one for awhile. Picked it up at for $156 at Schnucks in Missouri. I thought that was a great price for a 18 year old KC. Looking forward to trying this one.
Had it and I love the flavor profile at 100 proof but it’d be great to see what it’s like at a little bit higher proof. Maybe about 110-115ish……for science purposes of course. Cheers 🥃🥃
A few years ago it wasn't rare to find 14 &15 year-old single barrel store picks of Knob Creek at 120 proof. With the ones I've opened and tried, the oak has not been so prominent. It's there, for sure, but not overbearing. I'm glad I have a few bunkered away...
Every place I can think of got it in last week but it's marked up here in South Carolina, had to pay $244 plus tax but I had to have it before it was all gone..FOMO....Hit em with the oaky note, oaky doke....Cheers!!
I guess value on this one is really two questions. If you don't have the bottle (and can afford $170) I think its a fair price in today's market for a 18 yr product. There isn''t a lot out there at 18 yr age statement, that's obtainable. As a repeat bottle, that's a little trickier. In my market Fourgate (11 yr? blend), Cream of Kentucky (11.5 yr, when you can find it), Doc Swinson (15 yr), Kentucky Owl Confiscated and a bunch of others all sell into that price slot. However, none of them are 18's and you can argue all of those are a bit overpriced. Calumet 16 would be my pick at the $170 price point, but the KC18 isn't a bad buy if you like the oak.
I found one yesterday as my wife approved Bday gift to myself!! I'm weird and really dig extra oaky taste. Aaaaand biased bc I love KC. But that was an excellent point I didn't think of. When you said cask strength would probably have been too much oak. It needed that water. I haven't heard anyone else say that.
I picked up a cal farms 15 and thats at the top of my threshold for oak. If u poured me a bit of KC 18 id not turn it away but not sure id spend 180 on a whole bottle. Dont get me wrong i really love the kc profile i have a 12 that i love.
I just think that wanting proof for the sake of proof is kind of like wanting the whole stick of butter in the mashed potatoes when a few tablespoons will do just fine…
15 was 1.5x the cost of the 12 and I thought I got ripped off. This is almost double the cost of the 15. I doubt I’ll be hunting it without trying it first. That being said, while they’re all single barrels, I have really liked all the EC18 that I’ve been able to try. Those are $130 for me though (state controlled). $200 KC seems looney tunes
Ok, so, if I could, I would buy this, and I really appreciate your thoughts and walkthough. However, given the price ..... I am afraid I will stay to the much, much cheaper KCs that i just enjoy. Cheers!
This will be one of those bottles that I would love to buy a pour at a bar as long as it’s at a reasonable price but will pass on the bottle purchase. Typically the older bourbons are too Oaked for me. Cheers
Chad taking a poke at Total Wine for being a straight up spirits store that doesn’t bend you over like so many others. Hey Chadster, you been getting free samples too long bro!
I am amused by the fact that I got some Knob Creek samples during my KY trip (Thank you Brubaker!) and will taste them this evening on a live stream! I only decided on this last night, so seeing your video today solidified my decision. 🖖😎🥃
Age is not a linear price progression. Not a ton of 18 year bottles on the mark, let alone for sub $10 per year. You get some old Canadians for very cheap but that's a totally different story. With the bourbon boom it is even more unusual to have much stock that is aging past 10 years. It's also rare for a bourbon/Americana whiskey to be good after 18 years of aging - our climate does not suit long slow aging processes. Likely these are barrels that are in very low variation zones in the rick house that allows it to develop age without just being all oak no flavor. Generally, bourbon seems to excel in the 8-12 year range depending. Ideally 8-10 years plus finishing in a used barrel.
Pretty sure Bakers ages in different warehouses. Might be wrong. The line for this, this morning was over 18 deep and there was only 6 bottles. Sooo.....ugh.
HUH. I didn't know that the difference between KC and Baker's was just proof. Maybe because I've only had the 7 yr Bakers and gravitate towards the 12 year and store picks of KC... but they were massively different experiences for me.
Calling this “6 times the price” really isn’t fair because the standard Knob Creek is way underpriced and is the best value in bourbon. $160 MSRP for an 18 year isn’t bad
I will agree that 160 msrp is fair for a 18yr, but cant say I agree with standard being way under priced. Would it be worth it still at a little higher price yes, but I don't think it's far off it's mark when u truly look at what's out there at msrp for 65-70 and below.
I do want the 18, but 12 year is my fav so far, better than 15yr for me….
Cask strength allows you to create the perfect proof for you and explore it all the way down.. the journey is so important
You are not wrong...but it also would also mean at least 10% fewer bottles released. Or maybe a MSRP of $200, if they had the inventory.
I love Knob Creek. I think I will try a pour to see what it is like. The 12 year is the sweet spot for me. Great review!
18 is leaps and bounds above 9, 12, 15 yr.
I agree on the 12 year. Better than 9 or 15 for me. I might try the 18 at a bar just for grins, but wouldn't spend the big bucks on a bottle of it.
10 bucks a year. It’s a special buy. The bourbon you pull out on thanksgiving to share.
Good point of view! I’m really liking my bottle! However for the price the Knob Creek 12 yr has less oak and I can get three bottles! Love them both! Also my Knob Creek store pick at 70 bucks is awesome! Cheers
Knob Creek is pretty much my favorite bourbon...It's complex and cheap (9yr)
Great review ! I agree with both pros and cons you all listed . as a Kc fan, i’m a bit on the fence about this bottles SRP.
I also vote for cask strength. Let the end user decide on dilution.
Just scored a bottle this morning in NC at MSRP.
Honestly to me it is very hard to beat the 12 year. I have tried the 15 yr Knob Creek and was a bit disappointed. Where the 12 year was very balanced and had a great mouth feel and coating the 15 had more oak to the point of having a bit of a "wet oak" aftertaste and a drier finish. I have not had the pleasure of trying the 18 yr but I'm afraid it will be more of the 15 year profile. I just feel there is a limit to how long you can put whiskey in a first run charred oak barrel.
I love the 12..still have a couple of pours. Scored an 18 this morning and can't wait to compare.
@@account2292 I'd be curious to see your comparison between the two.
I grabbed one but haven't popped it open yet. I picked it up because I knew it would go fast and limited. Not a big KC or JB fan, so I'm torn...
This is what's so great about Chad and Sara. They didn't agree on this one, but they drop so much knowledge and variety of opinion without stepping on each other's toes to give a heartfelt review. I appreciate a lot of podcasters and reviewers, but as the Carly Simon song says, Nobody does it better.
Wow, thanks so much! You made our day 🥃
@@ItsBourbonNight Hearing that makes my day. Keep on doing what you do. You make the bourbon journey that much more fun.
Great review. I'd like to see this with less water as well. Y'all are a fun Bourbon couple and offer some great expert input for sure. Nice nails Sara. Nice shirt Chad.
Bourbon prices are getting to be a turn-off
Considering MSRP is less than $10 a year of aging, it’s priced quite fair by today’s standards. It’s the crooks that up charge by insane amounts that piss me off.
@@yanksrule311 Distillers marketing staff would hire hire you on the spot with that justification
Found it in Kentucky for $200 so why not. I think Chad's comments were spot on. A great nose and color, easy drinker oak profile but not off putting. Very pleasant and enjoyable since I like some oak. It would be a great bottle if it cost less. It reminds me of debating Elijah Craig 18 at 90 proof. With the current bottle inflation and due to its rarity, I would buy it at $200 or less. These bottles will be more expensive on secondary very soon. Enjoyed seeing Chad and Sara at Bourbon on the Banks. And letting me buy the display crystal glen cairn glasses! Cheers
Oh, hey! It was great seeing you all there, too!
I have been looking to find this one for awhile. Picked it up at for $156 at Schnucks in Missouri. I thought that was a great price for a 18 year old KC. Looking forward to trying this one.
Outstanding review! Personal preference is paramount to everyone’s decision to spend $$$ on a bottle. IBN Cheers!🥃🥃
Nice Find!
PERSONALLY I LOVE DOUBLE OAK !
Had it and I love the flavor profile at 100 proof but it’d be great to see what it’s like at a little bit higher proof. Maybe about 110-115ish……for science purposes of course. Cheers 🥃🥃
Thanks for this review you two! 🥃
Thanks for the video 🥃
Everywhere around me (South Carolina), it’s priced between 250-300.
At that price, I can see why it is readily available
What a great review. You guys are so great. Thanks for sharing!
How's it compare to Woodford's Double Oaked?
A few years ago it wasn't rare to find 14 &15 year-old single barrel store picks of Knob Creek at 120 proof. With the ones I've opened and tried, the oak has not been so prominent. It's there, for sure, but not overbearing. I'm glad I have a few bunkered away...
I miss them too. I guess that inventory is being used up in these batch releases.
Every place I can think of got it in last week but it's marked up here in South Carolina, had to pay $244 plus tax but I had to have it before it was all gone..FOMO....Hit em with the oaky note, oaky doke....Cheers!!
I guess value on this one is really two questions. If you don't have the bottle (and can afford $170) I think its a fair price in today's market for a 18 yr product. There isn''t a lot out there at 18 yr age statement, that's obtainable. As a repeat bottle, that's a little trickier. In my market Fourgate (11 yr? blend), Cream of Kentucky (11.5 yr, when you can find it), Doc Swinson (15 yr), Kentucky Owl Confiscated and a bunch of others all sell into that price slot. However, none of them are 18's and you can argue all of those are a bit overpriced. Calumet 16 would be my pick at the $170 price point, but the KC18 isn't a bad buy if you like the oak.
They are selling this for 259 at one of my stores. Hell nahh hahhaa
I agree that for that price and age, it would be better for KC to offer it as a single barrel or cask strength.
Think I will stick with Knob Creek 12 for the price point. I currently have 3 bottles on the shelf.
Out of my league but happy for those who can.
Would like to see the “Oakie drinkoff.”
And blind ;)
I found one yesterday as my wife approved Bday gift to myself!!
I'm weird and really dig extra oaky taste. Aaaaand biased bc I love KC.
But that was an excellent point I didn't think of. When you said cask strength would probably have been too much oak. It needed that water. I haven't heard anyone else say that.
I picked up a cal farms 15 and thats at the top of my threshold for oak. If u poured me a bit of KC 18 id not turn it away but not sure id spend 180 on a whole bottle. Dont get me wrong i really love the kc profile i have a 12 that i love.
Can you define what oak and tannic smell and taste like ?
Got mine at good ol Costco for 140 hehe cant wait to crack it
I just think that wanting proof for the sake of proof is kind of like wanting the whole stick of butter in the mashed potatoes when a few tablespoons will do just fine…
😂 at Chad being lost in the nose and not hearing one word Sara was saying. even I missed her point 😆
15 was 1.5x the cost of the 12 and I thought I got ripped off. This is almost double the cost of the 15. I doubt I’ll be hunting it without trying it first. That being said, while they’re all single barrels, I have really liked all the EC18 that I’ve been able to try. Those are $130 for me though (state controlled). $200 KC seems looney tunes
Ok, so, if I could, I would buy this, and I really appreciate your thoughts and walkthough. However, given the price ..... I am afraid I will stay to the much, much cheaper KCs that i just enjoy. Cheers!
I will probably buy it, because I need an 18. Probably not going to measure up to my 15!
Maybe a side by side with EC18?
Review all knob creek please
How does oaky really taste to you? Is it bitter?
This will be one of those bottles that I would love to buy a pour at a bar as long as it’s at a reasonable price but will pass on the bottle purchase. Typically the older bourbons are too Oaked for me. Cheers
here it sit sipping my favorite KC 9y SiB wondering how it would be at twice the age. 🤔
Chad taking a poke at Total Wine for being a straight up spirits store that doesn’t bend you over like so many others. Hey Chadster, you been getting free samples too long bro!
I would love to try this, but I would like to try a lot of things I can't have.
Great review you two. Hopefully it opens up but yeah this is one I’ll skip.
I am amused by the fact that I got some Knob Creek samples during my KY trip (Thank you Brubaker!) and will taste them this evening on a live stream! I only decided on this last night, so seeing your video today solidified my decision. 🖖😎🥃
I really hope I find one of these. Kill me with the oak.
So funny how you and the Junkies are sooo different.
Excited to find and try this at $180 range but secondary is at $300 in Ohio, no way is this worth that much !
If I find this sweet puppy (not likely), the wax is NOT coming off!!
Age is not a linear price progression. Not a ton of 18 year bottles on the mark, let alone for sub $10 per year. You get some old Canadians for very cheap but that's a totally different story. With the bourbon boom it is even more unusual to have much stock that is aging past 10 years. It's also rare for a bourbon/Americana whiskey to be good after 18 years of aging - our climate does not suit long slow aging processes. Likely these are barrels that are in very low variation zones in the rick house that allows it to develop age without just being all oak no flavor.
Generally, bourbon seems to excel in the 8-12 year range depending. Ideally 8-10 years plus finishing in a used barrel.
WHISKEY CHEERS 😎😎😎😎
Man, I want this bottle so badly.
Bourbon is overrated. Scotch, rye, cognac is the way for a gentleman
@@ramencurry6672 Yes! If you crave dirt and ashtrays...Scotch is the way to go!
@@whodey59 No, bourbon is good if you like brown sugar dessert stuff. It’s basically for a child palate
@@ramencurry6672 Yea...if your child likes 100 to 140 proof dessert.
@ramen. Lol. Ardbeg 10 is like drinking a campfire
один из лучших виски ...
“Everything should be the same proof as pure grain alcohol. If it is less than 180 proof, then why bother?” -It’s Bourbon Night.
Its shameful the regular store pick which ranged from 12- 16 yo @ 69.99
I think the 12yo is excellent, for $60.
Future classic IBN, Sarah is the bear and Chad is Goldie Locks trying to figure out if the Oak is Right.
@2:57 - I could not do that, even in my most imbiblious moments 😲.
Pretty sure Bakers ages in different warehouses. Might be wrong.
The line for this, this morning was over 18 deep and there was only 6 bottles. Sooo.....ugh.
HUH. I didn't know that the difference between KC and Baker's was just proof. Maybe because I've only had the 7 yr Bakers and gravitate towards the 12 year and store picks of KC... but they were massively different experiences for me.
$10 per year is not bad
Wow Sara nice outfit.
You know the proof it down to 100 so they can get more bottles per batch!
Sara. If it was cask strength it would be even more oaky. You could always blend it with some Bookers. "It's Bourbon Night Reserve" blend.
Have to disagree… I think 100 proof is spot on for this age or the oak would be just too much. This is FANTASTIC at 100 proof.
Ha. I've seen it in retail by me from 299-403
Love KC but the price doesn't match the finish or proof for that kind of money
1200 proof is pretty proofy! LOL
Price 169 -500 dollars
I thought it was ok, but I was expecting more for the age/price.
Consider that is 10 bucks per year! 🤷♂️
Calling this “6 times the price” really isn’t fair because the standard Knob Creek is way underpriced and is the best value in bourbon. $160 MSRP for an 18 year isn’t bad
I will agree that 160 msrp is fair for a 18yr, but cant say I agree with standard being way under priced. Would it be worth it still at a little higher price yes, but I don't think it's far off it's mark when u truly look at what's out there at msrp for 65-70 and below.
Has anyone tried simmering bourbon on the stove to try and raise the proof? Asking for me.
I am concerned that the alcohol would evaporate just as fast as the water.
@@83alexnguyen that makes a lot of sense
I think the price on this made me like it less. Seemed pretty hot for 100 proof too. Wasn't the biggest fan. I liked the 15 year more.
If its too oakey for Sarah its too oakey for me... still debating calumet 15...
i payed $199 a month ago
Probably not my pour especially at the price.
18 is too old for Sara 😂
Sounds like it's way overpriced
Found this at my Indianapolis Costco for 145.99…..still a pass…
If you think it’s bitter at 100 proof imagine 120
Sarah is just HOT. Chad you lucky Dude