Review #387 - Knob Creek 9 Year Single Barrel Select - Wiseguy Lounge Pick 'Chop Shop'
Wiseguy Lounge Barrel Pick Series: Part 19 of 20
Another Knob Creek bourbon single barrel, and another Wiseguy Lounge pick - this is the 13th that the speakeasy bar has done with the Knob Creek brand, and it's named 'Chop Shop.' It's another 9 year-aged bourbon, though this one hails from the 5th floor of Warehouse K.
We do get the powerful strength of 60% ABV (120 proof) that normally comes with these single barrel select bottles; flavor delivery, then, should be strong.
Knob Creek 9 Year Single Barrel Select - Wiseguy Lounge Pick 'Chop Shop'
USA - Bourbon
Price: USD 55 (2024)
Age Statement: 9 Years
Strength: 60% ABV
Details: Wiseguy Lounge pick #13 'Chop Shop,' barreled February 12, 2014, bottled June 14, 2023; warehouse K, 5th floor, rick 016
Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 1 time; bottle at 10% fill level at time of review. Tasted in a nosing glass, rested 10-15 minutes
Nose: Oak is the first note - medium strength, with a bit of barbecue and some nutty character to it. There is a tiny hint of red fruit in the background, and then the oak grows stronger and more drying; dry vanilla and a bit of ethanol are also present. Leans dry overall.
Palate: A medium-thick mouthfeel, with a very buttery, chewy texture - this is so oily and nicely rounded. We get candied pecans, mellow dark cherry notes, some prickling oak tannins, and a bit of leather; in time, those oak notes get more mature, almost like old antique furniture.
Finish: The buttery texture continues, and while the palate leaned dry, this finish grows sweeter: soft caramel, some nut brittle, and blackberry-type fruits. In the aftertaste, it's creamy peanut butter.
Final Note: Decent flavor on this single barrel from Knob Creek - a bit stronger on the red fruit notes than usual, though the overall profile was a little bit simple. The strength here was the texture - that proof point gave this an awesome chewy, buttery palate, which paired well with the nutty notes.
Value is good, too - prices on these Knob Creek single barrels are generally very fair, and that's the case here.
Our Average Rating: 7.0 / 10
In the current whisky landscape of increasing prices and variable quality, we've added a value rating to our reviews that relates to the score and the available pricing of each whisky. This roughly equates to a 0-10 scale; no reviews so far have exceeded a score of 10, although it is technically possible for the formula to produce a value rating higher than 10 with a high enough score and low enough price.
Value Rating: 7.36
About Us: We're a husband and wife review team living in the Midwest United States. Generally, our reviews and tasting notes will be a compilation of both of our experiences with a whisky over several tasting sessions.
