SF Crusader: Loch & K(e)y Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 2015

Jim Beam puts out a lot of whiskey. In addition to their signature brand, the Clermont distillery is responsible for a set of bourbons they call their Small Batch Bourbons - these are Knob Creek, Basil Hayden's, Booker's and Baker's. It also produces Old Grand-Dad but this post is going to focus on the Knob Creek brand.Within this brand there are a few expressions. The standard 100-proof small batch, a rye (also 100 proof), a flavored "Smoked Maple" and last but not least a single barrel 120-proofer.On a recent trip to Kentucky I had the pleasure of spending a delightful day visiting the Jim Beam facility and participating in a barrel pick (as detailed in this excellent writeup by bourbonooga). The usual single barrel disclaimers apply here: different barrels of bourbon can exhibit wildly different tastes even if everything else (distillation batch, barrel date, age, etc.) remain the same.We picked from three barrels and this was the obvious favorite. I remember distinctly thinking "this is it" when I first tried it, and though I also tried to keep an open mind and sample each a few times, my first impression was right.On the nose I get a pretty hot blast of alcohol, which makes sense as this is fairly overproof, but also some darker cherry notes and a smell that I'm going to describe as a little glue-y but in a good way (make what you will of that). After a few minutes the initial cherry has deepened slightly into a cherry-caramel smell that I can almost chew on.On the tongue there is a blast of cherry cola along with no small amount of oak barrel - the high proof along with the oak really help elevate this bourbon, as although it isn't the most complex whiskey I've ever tasted, it is definitely better than other Knob Creek bottles I've tried.On the finish cherry remains predominant, gaining a slightly medicinal and syrupy quality (think: the best cherry cough syrup you have ever tasted).Upon adding water, I'm amazed at how the nose opens, with that strong cherry now taking a backseat to lighter caramel-vanilla-toffee along with a slight tanginess reminiscent of dried apricot (though with no other qualities of that fruit). The nose smells really, really good. Maybe even a minor walnut note? I'm getting some pepper spice on the palate now, in addition to a hint of smokiness which also complements the flavors immensely. Definitely some leather in there as well.A pleasant sensation of crushed black pepper dances across the tongue during the finish,In sharp contrast to the Booker's 25th Anniversary (also produced by Jim Beam), water improves this Knob Creek Single Barrel considerably. After adding a couple drops of water this is a pretty delicious and well-balanced drink, although certainly on the toothier, heftier side.Rating: 3.5 / 5