Knob Creek Rye Single Barrel (Catcher in the Rye)
Is there a more under-appreciated rye whiskey out there than Knob Creek Rye? Although KC Rye may not have quite the cachet of some of the more sought after (and difficult to obtain) whiskeys currently on the market, it nonetheless has plenty to offer. It remains reasonably priced in a market that is seeing more and more price increases, and is one of the few ryes readily available as a store pick single barrel. And of course, store picks are where it’s at if you want a unique American whiskey experience in this day and age.
If you’re a regular reader here on the Mule, then you may know that I went on a barrel pick to Jim Beam last fall to help select store pick single barrels of Knob Creek bourbon and rye. I’ve previously written about the experience of picking the whiskeys and reviewed the bourbon we selected. Now it’s time to complete this little trilogy of Knob Creek articles by reviewing the rye we picked on that beautiful autumn day.
As has become the norm for many store picks, this particular barrel was given a fun name for ease of reference—in this case, “Catcher in the Rye” (complete with a Holden Caulfield inspired sticker on the back of the bottle). It was barreled on 1/21/2013, aged for right around six years (bottled on 1/24/2019), and was picked for Elixir Spirits in Spring Hill, TN. I ended up liking this whiskey so much I bought the whole barrel… after it was empty, unfortunately—the empty barrel is now a lovely addition to my front porch decor (and a nice photo prop).
All three of the rye barrels we were offered in the Beam warehouse when we made this pick were good, but the barrel that would become “Catcher” was the clear favorite of our group of tasters. My notes from the warehouse tasting mention that this particular rye was rich with butterscotch and layers of depth and spice. Would that still hold true after a few more months of aging and being proofed down to bottling strength? Let’s see.
Knob Creek Rye Review (Catcher in the Rye)
Type: Straight Rye Whiskey
Region: Kentucky
Age: 6 years
ABV: 57.5%
Nose
Mint! Fresh spearmint leaves and menthol, to be specific. Caramel lurks beneath the surface, an especially sweet and appetizing caramel. Very dark chocolate. Floral, with a hint of earthy clay. Spicy and rejuvenating, almost like a splash of mentholated aftershave lotion.
Palate
Like the nose, a big burst of mint followed by caramel and butterscotch. This time the caramel/butterscotch is much bigger and plays closer to center stage. Floral. Spicy vanilla. Dark chocolate flakes. A nicely creamy and thick texture. Better with water or air, preferably a little of both (the bottle really opened up a few weeks after opening).
Finish
Long and dry. Mint and menthol linger for quite some time. The caramel is still present a little, but darker and subdued. Dark chocolate. Andes mints. A touch of earthy bitterness.
Overall
Big and delicious. Maybe not the most complex rye whiskey, but very tasty and enjoyable, with a decent amount of depth, an invigorating nose, and a good texture.
This whiskey really needed water when I first opened the bottle, as it was way too aggressive at bottle strength initially. That changed after the bottle had been open for a few weeks, as a bit of oxidation helped to open things up (although I still like it better with a few drops of water added). A little water and air make this rye sing.
SCORE: 7/10
Final Thoughts
Very close to being an 8/10, but just a tad short (remember, 7 on my scale is “very good”). In regards to your typical store pick Knob Creek Ryes, I would say most of the ones I’ve tried are quite good, right around a 6 or 7. I happen to think this particular pick is better than most, but it’s hard to go wrong with any Knob Creek Rye.
Whereas the bourbon (Double Booked) we selected the same day as this rye ended up being significantly better after it was bottled compared to the warehouse tasting, I would say Catcher is similar to but maybe not quite as good as it was straight from the barrel. And that’s generally to be expected—many people would tell you the best possible way to enjoy a whiskey is to taste it drawn straight from the cask in the warehouse where it was aged. The butterscotch notes that I noticed when we selected it remained in the final product in a big way (although now I’m viewing it as more caramel than butterscotch).
I’m really enjoying Catcher in the Rye, to the point where I was curious to see how it compares to some of the higher end bottles of rye in my home collection. So I arranged to do a series of blind tastings, pitting Catcher up against some real heavy hitters: Thomas H. Handy, Michter’s Barrel Strength, Pikesville, and Lot 40 12 Year Cask Strength. Catcher easily bested Michter’s and Pikesville in the blind tasting and was nearly even with THH (I gave Handy the win, but it was closer than you’d expect). It didn’t quite perform at the same level as the Lot 40, but very few North American whiskeys can—that Lot 40 is on a whole different planet of flavor experience (I’m planning to review it soon, so stay tuned). But bottom line, a damned impressive showing for a reasonably priced bottle of rye.
Buying Advice: Knob Creek store pick ryes are one of the best values in rye whiskey currently available (usually around $40-45). Keep your eye out for them at your friendly neighborhood liquor store. And if you happen to be in the Middle Tennessee area, Catcher in the Rye is still available at Elixir Spirits in Spring Hill.
Questions about my scoring system? Refer to the Review Method & Scoring Scale page.
For more reviews, check out the Whisky Review Archive.
