Knob Creek

Knob Creek Bourbon was created in 1992 by Booker Noe as part of the Jim Beam Small Batch Collection that helped define the premium bourbon movement. Named after the creek near Abraham Lincoln’s childhood home, built around longer aging and higher proof. The lineup includes Small Batch (100 proof, 9 years, caramel, oak, dried fruit), 12 Year (deeper oak and complexity), Single Barrel Reserve (120 proof, hand-selected, unfiltered), Knob Creek Rye (100 proof, spicy and dry), and Smoked Maple.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Who created Knob Creek and why does it matter?

Knob Creek was created by Booker Noe — Jim Beam’s master distiller and grandson of Jim Beam himself — as part of the original Small Batch Collection in 1992. At the time, most bourbon was commodity-priced and low-proof; Booker Noe’s Small Batch Collection (Knob Creek, Basil Hayden’s, Bakers, and Booker’s) was one of the first serious efforts to position American bourbon as a premium spirit worth drinking neat at higher proof. Knob Creek’s 9-year age statement and 100 proof were deliberately positioned against Scotch single malts.

What is the difference between Knob Creek Small Batch and Single Barrel Reserve?

Small Batch blends selected barrels for a consistent 100 proof profile — the house expression, more predictable and versatile for cocktails. Single Barrel Reserve is bottled from individual handpicked barrels at 120 proof without chill filtration, making it higher in alcohol, richer in texture, and variable from barrel to barrel. Single Barrel shows more raw oak and concentrated fruit; Small Batch is smoother and more approachable. Both are 9 years old.