Cherry | Apple | Burnt sugar | Cocoa powder | Sweet charred oak | Cinnamon frosting

Leather | Sweet tobacco | Dark brown sugar | Chocolate | Raisin | Sweet oak

Aged musty oak | Cola | Allspice | Dark tobacco | Roasted peanuts | Dark stone fruit | Gentle oak tannins

After a couple of years of Knob Creek 18 Year releases, Beam is finally pushing its age statement upward. This might have to do with the annual high-aged Elijah Craig releases that continually go unchecked in the market, or Jack Daniel’s looking to continue to push their whiskeys’ age statements upward. Or as Beam’s master distiller Freddie Noe puts it, “When we first laid this batch to rest, we weren't chasing any specific age statement - we were focused on crafting a great bourbon, just like we always do. After I tasted the whiskey, I knew we had something special.”

Last year’s Knob Creek 18 Year was over-oaked, plain and simple. Besides fans who love extra heavy aged oak in their bourbon, many were left unsatisfied after walking away with their $200 bottle. This resulted in plenty of apprehension for Beam’s follow-up release that upped the age statement to 21 years.

Thankfully, Knob Creek 21 Year fixes a lot of what was wrong with Knob Creek 18 Year. The company managed to find barrels that proudly exert their high age, but are also able to find balance with the rest of the sip. The bourbon’s age is prominent throughout, but the best aspects of its age are able to shine with the correct intensity this time.

The bourbon is full of sweet and savory flavors along with a creamy mouthfeel. Mainly, the palate brings a lot of the sweet flavors of sweet tobacco, dark brown sugar, chocolate, and raisin, with a savory finish of musty oak, allspice, dark tobacco, roasted peanuts, and gentle oak tannins. It’s this two-sided attack that keeps the bourbon balanced and oak largely in check.

Though the 21 Year’s price grew $50 from the 18 year old release, based on its impressive age statement and the sip it delivers, it falls in the acceptable range. Like last year's Old Grand-dad 16 Year, some will wish the proof was higher, but high aged bourbon, especially from major Kentucky distilleries, are often proofed around 100. High aged bourbon has always been pricey, and in today's market of $200 no age statement limited edition releases, it is a very fair price.

Knob Creek 21 Year is the company’s oldest age stated bourbon to date. Though this year’s Little Book Infinite II features 22 year old bourbon in its blend, it’s only a percentage of it. Given how flavorful the 21 Year’s flavor profile is for its age and price, many will thoroughly enjoy what it offers. Oak is still king, but thanks to more sweet flavors and a drawback of prominent oak and its resulting dryness, Knob Creek 21 Year Old Bourbon is trending in the right direction all around.