Knob Creek Launches 12 Year Old Cask Strength Bourbon
The James B. Beam Distilling Co. has announced Knob Creek 12 Year Old Cask Strength, a limited-edition Kentucky Straight Bourbon bottled at 121.2 proof. It pairs a double-digit age statement with undiluted strength, two things Knob Creek fans have long gravitated toward, and it arrives just ahead of the holiday season.
The Release
This bourbon was matured in charred American white oak barrels and selected from just 10 distinct lots in Knob Creek's rickhouses in Clermont, Kentucky. Those lots were batched together and bottled at full barrel strength, with no proofing down.
Master distiller Freddie Noe, an eighth-generation member of the Beam family, said the batch showed the depth the team wanted after 12 years in the rickhouse. In his words, "Cask strength means the barrel gets the final say."
According to the distillery, the nose offers caramel, char and dried apple. The palate is described as rich yet balanced, with butterscotch, dried apple and seasoned oak, leading to a warm finish with caramel and subtle cinnamon. Beam recommends drinking it neat or on the rocks, and also suggests it for a classic Old Fashioned.
The 12 year age statement sits well above the brand's 9 year flagship, and the proof is well above the flagship's 100. The announcement did not include a mash bill.
The Story of Knob Creek
Knob Creek was introduced in 1992 as part of the Small Batch Bourbon Collection, alongside Basil Hayden, Booker's and Baker's. The category was the vision of Booker Noe, Freddie Noe's grandfather, who wanted distinctive, premium bourbons defined by deliberate barrel selection, aging, proof and flavor. Knob Creek was meant to be the full-flavored, pre-Prohibition-style bourbon in that group.
The flagship is aged nine years in new American oak barrels with a maximum Level 4 char and bottled at 100 proof. That heavy char and generous age are a big part of the brand's reputation. The lineup now includes a 7 Year Old Rye, 9 Year Old Bourbon, 10 Year Old Rye, 12 Year Old Bourbon and 15 Year Old Bourbon. There are also single barrel releases and limited editions such as Bourbon x Rye.
Knob Creek is part of Suntory Global Spirits, which also owns Jim Beam and Maker's Mark.
Why It Stands Out
Knob Creek already offers a 12 Year Old Bourbon, so this release is about intensity rather than age alone. At 121.2 proof, it gives drinkers a chance to taste that 12 year profile without dilution. A high age statement, cask strength bottling and a sub-$100 price are an appealing mix at a time when many older bourbons cost far more.
The Details
Style: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Age: 12 years
ABV/Proof: 60.6% ABV / 121.2 proof
Cask/Finish: Charred American white oak, batched from 10 distinct lots
Release Size: Limited, quantity not stated
Price (SRP): $89.99 for 750mL
Availability: Nationwide for a limited time, arriving for the holiday season
Tonights Poison Take
This looks like a smart addition to the Knob Creek lineup. It gives fans of the 12 Year a stronger, more concentrated pour at a price that stays under $100. The tasting notes point to a classic Knob Creek profile, and that is exactly what cask strength should highlight. Since it is a limited release, anyone interested should look for it early in the holiday season.
Please enjoy responsibly.
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