Knob Creek 12 Year Old Cask Strength Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey 750ml

This is a genuinely rare occasion — Knob Creek 12 Year Old Cask Strength has only been released twice in its entire history, and this 2026 edition marks its first appearance since 2020. Knob Creek itself, alongside Basil Hayden, Booker's, and Baker's, is a founding member of the Small Batch Bourbon Collection, the category Jim Beam effectively created, and this release takes the brand's flagship 12-year expression and bottles it entirely uncut, at full cask strength, rather than the standard 100 proof release. The whiskey is patiently matured in charred American white oak barrels and hand-selected from just ten distinct lots across Knob Creek's own rickhouses in Clermont, Kentucky.

The bottle is limited to one bottle per customer, please

Forbes' David Tao, reviewing this exact 2026 release just over a week ago, found the nose "identifiably Knob Creek — or Beam, really — but dialed up a bit from what one normally expects," noting the whiskey "immediately tastes older than its nine year sibling, and gosh darn it, it rightfully should," picking out "dried cranberries" with some extra attention, and finding that "a few drops of water help accentuate the fruit, with more raisins, brandied cherries, and overall tart notes in addition to the baked apples," recommending trying it "neat and then slowly playing with dilution" given how rare the opportunity is. The official tasting notes describe the aroma as "caramel, char and dried apple," the taste "rich yet balanced flavors of butterscotch, dried apple and seasoned oak," the finish "warm with notes of caramel and subtle cinnamon." Bourbon Guy's independent tasting of the earlier 2020 release (sharing a near-identical character) found "caramel, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla" on the nose, with "spicy heat" on the palate bringing "vanilla, caramel, oak, cinnamon red hots," concluding simply, "I love this one. It's thick and chewy with the stereotypical bourbon notes that I just love." The Bourbon Road's tasting of that same release called it "some grown woman whiskey," with "brown sugar sweetness" giving way to spice, "drying on the back end with the rich notes of oak," like "drinking a rich pecan pie... from a bottle," concluding it's "definitely not a gateway bourbon." This is genuinely rare, full-proof Knob Creek — a real once-in-six-years opportunity to taste the brand's flagship 12-year bourbon at its most intense.

Origins & Craftsmanship

Knob Creek 12 Year Old Cask Strength Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is produced by The James B. Beam Distilling Co. in Clermont, Kentucky, home of the Small Batch Bourbon Collection. The bourbon is made from Knob Creek's standard mash bill of 77% corn, 13% rye, and 10% malted barley, matured 12 years in charred American white oak barrels, hand-selected from 10 distinct lots across Knob Creek's Clermont rickhouses.

This marks only the second release of this cask strength expression, following its debut in 2020. Bottled entirely uncut at barrel strength, 60.6% ABV / 121.2 proof, 750ml, released September 16, 2026, available nationwide for a limited time.

Critics Reviews

David Tao, Forbes (September 21, 2026):
"For the first time since 2020 — and just the second time overall — Knob Creek is releasing a cask strength version of its popular 12 year bourbon. Bottled at 121.2 instead of the standard 100 proof, it's a punchier version of one of American whiskey's best values. The nose is identifiably Knob Creek — or Beam, really — but dialed up a bit from what one normally expects. The whiskey immediately tastes older than its nine year sibling, and gosh darn it, it rightfully should! A couple other fruity notes can be picked out if you spend some extra time, specifically dried cranberries. A few drops of water help accentuate the fruit, with more raisins, brandied cherries, and overall tart notes in addition to the baked apples. But as this is a rare opportunity to experience 12 year Knob Creek at cask strength, I'd recommend trying it neat and then slowly playing with dilution."

James B. Beam Distilling Co. (official tasting notes):
"Aroma: Caramel, char and dried apple. Taste: Rich yet balanced flavors of butterscotch, dried apple and seasoned oak. Finish: Warm with notes of caramel and subtle cinnamon."

Tasting Profile

Nose
Caramel and char lead, joined by dried apple, alongside cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla.

Palate
Rich yet balanced, with butterscotch and dried apple carrying the entry, developing seasoned oak, brown sugar, and spicy heat, alongside dried cranberry and baked pie crust.

Finish
Warm and lingering, closing with caramel, subtle cinnamon, and drying oak — genuinely bold and full.

Quick Overview

Food Pairings

• Pecan or apple pie
• Grilled or smoked meats
• Aged cheddar
• Dark chocolate desserts

Serving Note

Try neat first, then slowly add water to taste — the proof genuinely rewards patient dilution, opening additional dried fruit and brandied cherry character.