Knob Creek Bourbon 2001 Limited Edition 750ML

Knob Creek Bourbon 2001 Limited Edition 750ML is a 14-year-old Kentucky straight bourbon bottled at 100 proof (50% ABV) in a 750ml bottle. Scored 95/100 by The Whiskey Wash, this limited release was drawn from barrels personally laid down by legendary master distiller Booker Noe in 2001 and finished by his son Fred Noe — making it both a tribute and a time capsule of the Noe family's craft.

Quick Facts: ABV: 50% (100 proof)  |  Origin: Clermont, Kentucky, USA  |  Age: 14 Years  |  Distillery: Jim Beam (Beam Suntory)

Production & Heritage

The 2001 Limited Edition traces its origins to barrels that Booker Noe — sixth-generation Jim Beam master distiller and the creator of the Knob Creek brand — filled and warehoused in 2001 at the Jim Beam distillery in Clermont, Kentucky. After Booker's passing in 2004, his son Fred Noe shepherded those barrels through a full 14 years of maturation in new American white oak with a deep level-4 char, the longest aging period of any Knob Creek release at the time. The mashbill follows the classic Jim Beam bourbon recipe: 77% corn, 13% rye, and 10% malted barley, cooked, fermented, and distilled through the Beam column-still operation before entering those hand-selected barrels.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with robust charred oak and a wave of dark caramel, followed by warm brown spices — cinnamon and nutmeg — and a lighter layer of sweet vanilla. Given time to breathe, subtle floral and stone fruit notes emerge beneath the wood influence.

Taste: The entry is rich with honey, vanilla, and caramel before ripe stone fruit — peach and plum — blooms across the mid-palate. As the bourbon develops, toasted oak and warm baking spice take hold, joined by a savory, almost salty undercurrent that adds unexpected depth. The texture is smooth yet mouth-coating, carrying the 100-proof heat without harshness.

Finish: Long and oak-driven, with lingering char, baking spice, and a fading sweetness of vanilla and dried fruit. The wood presence is commanding but never tannic, a testament to well-managed extended aging.

How to Drink Knob Creek 2001

A bourbon with this much age and complexity deserves to be tasted neat, ideally in a Glencairn glass with a few minutes of rest to let the oak open up; a few drops of water can soften the proof and coax out the stone fruit character. For cocktails, the 2001's intensity and oak backbone make it a standout in an Old Fashioned, where its deep caramel and spice hold up beautifully against bitters and sugar. It also shines in a Boulevardier, its ripe fruit and char matching the bitterness of Campari, and brings gravitas to a Whiskey Sour, where the honey-vanilla sweetness balances citrus without losing its identity.

Best For

• Gifting a bourbon collector who values distillery heritage and limited releases
• Commemorating a milestone occasion with a dated, age-stated bourbon
• Side-by-side tastings exploring extended aging in the Jim Beam lineup
• Adding a rare, discontinued bottle to a home whiskey library

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Knob Creek 2001 taste like? It leads with rich honey, vanilla, and caramel before ripe peach and plum emerge on the mid-palate, all framed by deep toasted oak, warm baking spice, and a subtle savory note. The finish is long and wood-forward with lingering sweetness.

How does Knob Creek 2001 compare to Knob Creek Single Barrel? Both are bottled at 100 proof, but the 2001 carries 14 years of age compared to the Single Barrel's typical 9-year profile, resulting in significantly more oak influence and dried fruit character. The Single Barrel tends toward a brighter, spicier profile, and many blind-tasting comparisons note it as a surprisingly competitive alternative despite its younger age and wider availability.

Is Knob Creek 2001 good for sipping neat? Absolutely — its 14 years of barrel maturation deliver a layered complexity that rewards slow, contemplative sipping. The 100-proof strength provides body without being overwhelming, especially with a drop or two of water.

Where is Knob Creek 2001 made? It was produced at the Jim Beam distillery in Clermont, Bullitt County, Kentucky, which has been the Beam family's distilling home since 1795. The facility is now owned and operated by Beam Suntory.

What foods pair well with Knob Creek 2001? Smoked brisket or pulled pork complements the bourbon's char and oak character. Dark chocolate truffles mirror its caramel and vanilla sweetness. Aged cheddar or Gruyère echoes the savory, nutty undertones. Pecan pie amplifies the honey and toasted-nut notes. Grilled stone fruit with brown sugar creates a natural bridge to the peach and plum on the palate.

What sizes does Knob Creek 2001 come in? The 2001 Limited Edition was released in the standard 750ml bottle size.

Is Knob Creek 2001 worth the price? As a discontinued limited edition with a 14-year age statement and a direct connection to Booker Noe's personal barrel selection, it positions firmly in the premium-to-collectible tier. Its 95/100 score from The Whiskey Wash reflects a well-regarded expression that commands secondary-market interest beyond its original retail positioning.

Why Knob Creek 2001?

This is not simply a long-aged bourbon — it is the physical legacy of Booker Noe's final barrels, selected and warehoused by the man who created small-batch bourbon as a category before his death in 2004. At 14 years, it held the record as the oldest Knob Creek expression at the time of release, and its 95/100 rating from The Whiskey Wash validates the quality that emerged from that extended maturation. The father-to-son narrative — Booker filling the barrels, Fred deciding when they were ready — gives the bottle a provenance that no subsequent Knob Creek limited edition can replicate. For bourbon drinkers who value heritage, age, and scarcity in a single pour, the 2001 stands as one of the more meaningful releases in the brand's history.