Binny's Hand Selected Single Barrel Knob Creek
Binny's Hand Selected Single Barrel Knob Creek
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Binny's Hand Selected Single Barrel Knob Creek
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Post #1 - December 20th, 2011, 11:08 amIt looks like Binny's has another batch of these. Has anyone tried them in the past? Has anyone tasted the current selections? I saw a laminated copy of tasting notes at the Skokie Binny's last week and it noted that they were quite surprised at the differences between the barrels, but I can't remember any of the characteristics for the particular barrels. I was at the Lincoln Park Binny's last night and they didn't have the same notes.
My girlfriend was looking to buy one as a gift, so just looking for a little guidance. Thanks.
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Post #2 - December 20th, 2011, 11:27 amziggy wrote:It looks like Binny's has another batch of these. Has anyone tried them in the past? Has anyone tasted the current selections? I saw a laminated copy of tasting notes at the Skokie Binny's last week and it noted that they were quite surprised at the differences between the barrels, but I can't remember any of the characteristics for the particular barrels. I was at the Lincoln Park Binny's last night and they didn't have the same notes.
My girlfriend was looking to buy one as a gift, so just looking for a little guidance. Thanks.
This is the 120 proof stuff, right? I haven't tried this year's batch but last year's was fine. The main attribute is that it's hot and the high proof is very up front. I didn't find it particularly smooth or complex but the high proof does lend itself well to making cocktails. It doesn't really seem like a great sipper to me, as the even-higher-proof Handy or Stagg (from the BT Antique Collection) are.
For more thoughts on gift-worthy whiskeys, see this thread:
Bourbon for a Gift
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Every human interaction is an opportunity for disappointment --RS
There's a horse loose in a hospital --JM
That don't impress me much --Shania Twain
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Post #3 - December 20th, 2011, 11:39 amYeah, it's marked on the bottle as 120 but the individual barrel stickers indicate more around 130.
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Post #4 - December 21st, 2011, 10:09 pmziggy wrote:Yeah, it's marked on the bottle as 120 but the individual barrel stickers indicate more around 130.
Knob Creek single barrel is 120 proof and not barrel proof (or cask strength) as is Stagg, Weller or Handy from the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection. Water is added before bottling to bring it exactly to 120 proof from whatever proof it comes out of each individual barrel and in Ziggy's case that barrel was 130 proof. It is however non chill filtered which leaves more esters and fatty acids than the regular version and certainly as a single barrel will have differences in taste profile from barrel to barrel. Small batch (the regular Knob Creek) is just a marketing term with no regulation as to how many barrels constitute a small batch, so bad barrels can still be used and be balanced out with others in a small batch. With single barrel, the distiller can't hide behind batching, so you really are getting the best of the barrels. And... if drinking neat...water should still be added to bring the 120 proof down to the 100 to 107 proof range because you will lose complexity much sooner at 120 proof from the taste buds deadening quicker.
