Knob Creek 18 Year Old

Pros

• Parent context: Do you feel this is more or less oaky than the 18? I felt the 18 was an oak bomb Reply: I think there’s slightly more oak, but it’s less bitter/astringent if that makes sense
• Tested the KC18 and KC21 side by side after getting the 21 at an allocation drop a few weeks ago and I think I’m in the same boat as you with respect to preferring oak-forward whiskeys. The 21 is elite but the 18 just satisfies my palett...
• It’s not unlike the difference between a knob creek single barrel and knob creek 18. Both very good
• But they shoot themselves in the foot with their own bottles knob creek 18 is much better for cheaper.
• Great review. I see a lot of polarizing opinions on this bottle but if you like oak, this is your bottle. One of my faves I’ll always have on hand

Cons

• I tried the 18 and was disappointed, especially because I love KC. I felt like the decision to proof it down diminished the characteristics of a whiskey aged that long.
• I did try this against Knob Creek 18 and found they had about a 90% overlap in profile, but the 21 was just much deeper and richer.
• Seems to be a common sentiment but it’s also worth noting that I love old overly oaky bourbons, and this one was on the bleeding edge of tannic for me too
• I felt the same about a pour of KC18 that I had at a restaurant earlier this year. It wasn't as good as the KC15 bottle I have at home - too tannic/astringent on the finish.
• Did a blind with this, EC 18, and Knob Creek 18. OGD won and none of them are inexpensive.