A Craft Maltster’s Closing Leaves Distillers in the Lurch

The collapse of Washington’s Skagit Valley Malting last month left distillers and brewers alike searching for new suppliers of malted barley. The craft maltster had… Read More

The collapse of Washington’s Skagit Valley Malting last month left distillers and brewers alike searching for new suppliers of malted barley. The craft maltster had more than 270 customers when it closed unexpectedly, including Seattle’s Westland and Copperworks distilleries. We’ll talk with Copperworks co-founders Jason Perkins and Jeff Kanof this week on WhiskyCast In-Depth, along with Kate Bernot, who’s been covering the story for Good Beer Hunting. In the news, the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame gets eight new inductees, while Woodford Reserve is teaming up with Kentucky farmers to develop the state as a rye-producing region. We’ll have all the week’s whisky news, tasting notes for whiskies from the U.S., Japan, and India, and much more on this week’s WhiskyCast. 

Episode 1011: July 2, 2023

Links: Copperworks Distilling | Good Beer Hunting | Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame | Woodford Reserve | Glenmorangie | Edrington | Diageo | The Northern Times | The Glenwalk | Chivas Regal | Wild Turkey | Booker’s Bourbon | Compass Box | Bimber Distillery

Thanks a Thousand! (Episode 1000: April 16, 2023)

We’re celebrating a major milestone this week with the 1000th episode of WhiskyCast! To mark the occasion, Mark went back through the archives to pick some memorable moments and interviews from the past 18 years for this special episode. You’ll hear from legends like the late Parker Beam and Michael Jackson, along with Jimmy Russell, Jim McEwan, Maureen Robinson, Fawn Weaver, and Richard Paterson…just to name a few. This episode is a lot longer than usual, and there’s plenty more that we could have included. In the news, Scotch Whisky Association leaders are hoping to persuade Parliament to reject a Read More »

We’re celebrating a major milestone this week with the 1000th episode of WhiskyCast! To mark the occasion, Mark went back through the archives to pick some memorable moments and interviews from the past 18 years for this special episode. You’ll hear from legends like the late Parker Beam and Michael Jackson, along with Jimmy Russell, Jim McEwan, Maureen Robinson, Fawn Weaver, and Richard Paterson…just to name a few. This episode is a lot longer than usual, and there’s plenty more that we could have included. In the news, Scotch Whisky Association leaders are hoping to persuade Parliament to reject a tax increase on whiskies and other distilled spirits, while local officials in Kentucky are looking at moratoriums on new distillery construction following the phaseout of the state’s barrel tax.


Links: Scotch Whisky Association | Kentucky.com | Sotheby’s | Papal Willett Barrel Pick | Royal Salute | Jura | Dewar’s | Coors Whiskey Company | Hemingway Rye | Lost Lantern

Knob Creek 18 Year Debuting for Brand’s 30th Anniversary

Knob Creek

The Hunt for Red Brown October is in full force as Knob Creek has just announced its oldest expression ever which is just hitting the market, a Limited Edition 18 Year clocking in at 100 Proof. This is double the standard 9 year age statement of the flagship and is a celebratory milestone as Knob […]

The post Knob Creek 18 Year Debuting for Brand’s 30th Anniversary first appeared on The Bourbon Review.

Knob Creek

The Hunt for Red Brown October is in full force as Knob Creek has just announced its oldest expression ever which is just hitting the market, a Limited Edition 18 Year clocking in at 100 Proof. This is double the standard 9 year age statement of the flagship and is a celebratory milestone as Knob Creek first debuted in 1992, thus marking its 30th Anniversary.

Per the brand, extensive aging in Kentucky rackhouses give this bourbon its rich copper color and unique flavor profile, delivering notes of caramelized oak and sweet vanilla with a warm finish; further demonstrating how great things take time and patience – yielding remarkable results.

Booker Noe, grandson of Jim Beam and 6th Gen Master Distiller is credited with creating the brand. Knob Creek and the remaining ’92 launched Small Batch portfolio (Baker’s, Basil Hayden) is an important centerpiece in Bourbon’s premiumization movement, now in full force.

The 70’s and 80’s were disastrous for American Whiskey. Bourbon’s reputation lets just say wasn’t what it is now in terms of a quality and upper echelon. That’s putting it politely. It was legends like Booker and his close pals Elmer T. Lee (Elmer T. Lee Single Barrel, est ’84) and Jimmy Russell (Rare Breed, est ’91) who made a bold and unconventional bet on making more expensive whiskey (longer aged, higher proof). I think we can all agree, it certainly paid off and helped pave the way for where Bourbon is today.

“As we celebrate 30 years of Knob Creek, it’s clear to me that Dad was ahead of his time in creating innovative expressions with big, bold flavors that defined pre-prohibition whiskey,” said Fred Noe, Booker Noe’s son and Seventh Generation Master Distiller. “This new 18 Year Old liquid is a nod to his vision and commitment to quality and craftsmanship, and I know this is a whiskey he’d be proud to serve. I’m honored to further his legacy with Knob Creek’s oldest and boldest expression yet.”

Knob Creek 18 Attributes (provided by the brand):

  • Proof: 100
  • Color: Rich copper tones with auburn hues
  • Aroma: Brown sugar and aged oak, with notes of char and caramel
  • Taste: Full-bodied with notes of caramelized oak and hints of sweet vanilla and baking spices
  • Finish: Warm finished with spice and slight floral and fruit notes

Knob Creek 18 Year Old is now available nationwide in limited quantities with a suggested retail price of $169.99 for a 750mL bottle. For more information about Knob Creek 18 Year Old and Knob Creek’s award-winning bourbon and rye portfolios, please visit www.KnobCreek.com or visit us on Instagram @KnobCreek.

About Knob Creek® Bourbon
In recent years, Knob Creek has expanded its rye portfolio, introducing Knob Creek® Single Barrel Select Rye Whiskey (115 proof). In 2020, Knob Creek expanded its bourbon portfolio with the introduction of Knob Creek 12 Year Old Bourbon (100 proof), and a limited time release of Knob Creek 15 Year Old Bourbon (100 proof).

The post Knob Creek 18 Year Debuting for Brand’s 30th Anniversary first appeared on The Bourbon Review.

Brother’s Bond: A Bourbon “Bromance”

Actors Paul Wesley and Ian Somerhalder discovered their friendship and a mutual love of Bourbon on the set of “The Vampire Diaries” television series. Once the show ended, they decided to launch their own Bourbon brand, Brother’s Bond, and it’s become one of the fastest-growing new Bourbon brands on the market over the last 18 months. While Wesley’s acting career now has him portraying the iconic character of James T. Kirk on “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds,” Somerhalder is practically a full-time whiskey blender. The Bourbon “brothers” join us on this week’s WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, the Kentucky Bourbon Read More »

Actors Paul Wesley and Ian Somerhalder discovered their friendship and a mutual love of Bourbon on the set of “The Vampire Diaries” television series. Once the show ended, they decided to launch their own Bourbon brand, Brother’s Bond, and it’s become one of the fastest-growing new Bourbon brands on the market over the last 18 months. While Wesley’s acting career now has him portraying the iconic character of James T. Kirk on “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds,” Somerhalder is practically a full-time whiskey blender. The Bourbon “brothers” join us on this week’s WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame’s Class of 2022 has been unveiled, while the state’s Bourbon distillers are raising more than a million dollars to help Kentucky flooding victims through a series of auctions and special bottlings. We’ll also explain what “a fifth” means in whiskey terms on Behind the Label, too.


Links: Brother’s Bond Bourbon | Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame | Kentucky Bourbon Benefit Auction | Buffalo Trace Flood Relief Auction | Four Roses | Ardbeg | Sliabh Liag Distillery | Booker’s Bourbon

Booker’s Announces Next Release – 2021 – 04, "Noe Stranger’s Batch"

Booker’s Bourbon has announced their latest release titled 2021 – 04, “Noe Stranger’s Batch.” This is the fourth Booker’s release this year and is named to celebrate Booker Noe… From Fred Noe, Beam Family 7th Generation Master Distiller… …

Booker's Bourbon has announced their latest release titled 2021 - 04, "Noe Stranger's Batch." This is the fourth Booker's release this year and is named to celebrate Booker Noe... From Fred Noe, Beam Family 7th Generation Master Distiller... 

This batch celebrates the genuine, social nature of my dad, Booker Noe, and the way he could turn a stranger into a friend for life in no time.

This release comes from four different warehouses (3% came from the 2nd floor of 9-story warehouse H, 27% came from the 5th floor of 9-story warehouse D, 39% came from the 6th floor of 9-story warehouse J, and 31% came from the 5th floor of 7-story warehouse Q). I have no idea what any of that means, but the main takeaway is the bourbon came from four locations and was mixed together (different warehouses and locations within the warehouses will result in different aging and flavors). 

This release was aged 6 years, 6 months, and 12 days... which is oddly specific. It comes in at 124.4 proof (62.2% alcohol) and contains the below tasting notes. No price was provided and previous releases have not made it to Ohio, however it is showing up around $120 online

Nose - Robust vanilla and caramel notes; slightly smoky.

Taste - Deep and complex flavors of vanilla, nuts and oak.

Finish - Long and full; perfect for easygoing sipping.

My Take

While I've never had Booker's, it has long been intriguing and I appreciate the multiple unique releases each year. That proof is also crazy high, which means in theory, you'll get longer out of the bottle than lessor proofs because the bourbon will be so strong or you'll need to water it down to drink (like me!). If you see this in a neighboring state, it might be worth picking up and giving it a go to get familiar with the Booker's brand.  

What do you think? Drop a note in the comments below. 


Source: Booker's

Booker’s “Bardstown Batch” Limited Release – Third of 2021

Bookers Bardstown BatchThe third release of the Booker’s® Bourbon 2021 Collection is Booker’s Batch 2021-03 “Bardstown Batch.” This batch honors the homeplace of 6th Generation Master Distiller Booker Noe along with several other generations of Beam family members. PROOF: 125.5 AGE: 6 years, 5 months PRICING & RELEASE: MSRP $89, October launch, limited release. NAME INSPIRATION “Bardstown […]

The post Booker’s “Bardstown Batch” Limited Release – Third of 2021 appeared first on The Bourbon Review.

Bookers Bardstown Batch

The third release of the Booker’s® Bourbon 2021 Collection is Booker’s Batch 2021-03 “Bardstown Batch.” This batch
honors the homeplace of 6th Generation Master Distiller Booker Noe along with several other generations of Beam
family members.

PROOF: 125.5

AGE: 6 years, 5 months

PRICING & RELEASE: MSRP $89, October launch, limited release.

NAME INSPIRATION “Bardstown Batch”

Booker was born in Springfield, Kentucky, but spent a good amount of time in Bardstown visiting friends along with his
grandfather, Jim Beam. After going to college, he moved to Bardstown full-time to join the family business. Booker
lived in Bardstown for more than 50 years and was well known in the community for his infectious personality. He was
the ultimate host, always inviting people over to the house for drinks and dinner parties.

Booker Noe
Booker Noe, 6th generation Master Distiller of Jim Beam. Courtesy Photo

These events became well known across town, especially when Booker was serving his country ham that he would smoke right in the backyard – a practice he learned from his grandfather and one that 7th Generation Master Distiller Fred Noe continues to this day.

Today, Fred Noe lives in the same house in Bardstown that his great-grandfather Jim Beam lived in, and 8th
Generation Master Distiller Freddie Noe is right next door with his own family. Though Bardstown may be called the
Bourbon Capital of the World, to the Beam family this special place is simply home.

The post Booker’s “Bardstown Batch” Limited Release – Third of 2021 appeared first on The Bourbon Review.