Single barrels are all the rage these days. Much of this is thanks to the prominence of barrel picks selected by everyone from local and online groups to independent stores, retail chains, and online outlets. Even before these selections exploded in popularity, the rule of thumb was to grab one over the shelfer variant. Some brands only offer single barrel selections in the form of these barrel picks, such as Rebel and Ezra Brooks, Four Roses Single Barrel Barrel Strength, and Old Forester Single Barrel bourbon.

Why is this worth emphasizing? Let’s just say there’s an argument to be made for the volume of barrel picks cutting into stocks for the aforementioned shelfers. Not every market has access to copious picks. Case in point: Unless I’m content rolling the dice with Total Wine’s barrel selections, my local options are effectively nil. The scenario becomes even trickier to navigate when we factor in the subjectivity of whiskey tasting itself.

However, since barrels might be chosen by individuals whose tastes don’t align with yours, it’s just as likely that a shelfer could be the sleeper bottle one hopes to stumble upon. My initial exposure to this scenario was with the first bottle of Knob Creek Single Barrel I purchased, back when the label design was far from flattering. I was stunned a $40-$50 bottle could deliver such a rich and fulfilling experience; it held its own against Elijah Craig Barrel Proof. Since then, I’ve tried a small host of Knob Creek barrel picks, meaning I can better anticipate what profile might await me. Combine that with morbid curiosity and I decided to give a Knob Creek Single Barrel shelfer a go to see how it holds up. Let’s have a look.

Nose: Leads with a surprising hit of roasted corn before light brown sugar, clove, and hints of anise arise. Comes complete with that nutty wood profile that Jim Beam products routinely provide. More specifically, I get a heavily salted, toffee almond component. Overall, this presents as surprisingly savory for a bourbon.

Palate: Lovely viscosity with a strong, toffee-forward profile. Retains the clove and light brown sugar notes from the nose, but they ultimately play second fiddle to the toffee and caramel. Balanced dose of oak sets the finish up, keeping the pour squarely in the less sweet territory.

Finish: Moderate (not overpowering) barrel char influence with a bit of pepper and peanut butter toast. A lightly mellow and creamy vanilla note gradually emerges over time.

Truth be told, not much has changed in my assessment of Knob Creek Single Barrel in the grand scheme of things. This says less about the similarity between my first and current bottles and more about the dependable quality of the product line. In other words: this is some damn solid bourbon.

The ABV, profile, and viscosity make for a potent combination that should easily satisfy proof and flavor fiends alike. The proof and viscosity in particular hold the whiskey together better than expected, especially considering my experience with a couple of Knob Creek picks (we’ll eventually get to those). It’s not a complex whiskey per say, but it’s near the top of bang-for-buck bourbons between the age, proof, flavor, pricing, and overall availability.