When I originally purchased this bottle (back before the packaging changes), I thought this was Knob Creek’s regular bourbon offering. After taking a picture of it, I realized that I had purchased Knob Creek Smoked Maple. Unable to return liquor in the state of Ohio, I did what anyone would do. I opened it. So how is it?
Knob Creek Smoked Maple
If you read the reviews on Knob Creek’s sight, you’ll find that people are quite polarized over Knob Creek Smoked Maple. This isn’t surprising when you consider that many “maple” bourbons are aged in ex-maple barrels. The result is usually something that it’s particularly sweet, but has a maple note. This isn’t that, this is more akin to a bourbon with maple (flavors) added to it. With that out of the way, here’s what it’s like.
Sight: Chestnut Oloroso Sherry (no mention of color add –)
Smell: Unsurprisingly a roasted, slightly caramelized maple syrup note comes thought. It is slightly short of what I’d consider smokey. Touches of baking spices, vanilla, and oak notes comes though in the underpinnings. A slight touch of orange zest might be linger as well.
Sip: Sweetness starts with a richness from the sugar. The palate is loaded with maple drenched pecans and peanuts. The nuts are almost pan roasted with maple, and sprinkled with cinnamon and baking spices. Touches of oak and a little cigar box come in too.
Savor: The finish has a bit of warmth, giving some heat all the way down. Despite that, the sugar keeps it easygoing, and the flavors of maple, spice, and nuttiness linger.
Knob Creek Smoked Maple is sweet, maple laden, and underpinned by solid Knob Creek flavors. Like the Knob Creek Small Batch 9 Year, there’s a lot to like about the interaction of the nuttiness and oak touches that under pin the maple flavors here. While the flavors are nice, purists will find the maple flavors overpower what they like to pick out of the whiskey, while those who like a little sweetness may find something to soothe the experience with. Either way, it isn’t a bad product, but it certainly isn’t meant as a neat drinker for everyone.
In Cocktails
Knob Creek Smoked Maple is more liqueur than liquor. As such, using it as a base in a Manhattan would be quite strange on it’s own, but you could use it as a modifier or split base. In an Old Fashioned, it produces the same nuttiness and maple notes as on it’s own, with a lot of complexity to the nuts. The spices here are accentuated by the bitters. Unsurprisingly, it’s an easy sipper and feels a bit like a shortcut / poor mans version of our Maple Cinnamon Old Fashioned. Due to the sweetness, I excluded an additional sugar component.
This might be the best usage as well, as this is a tricky bottle to find a great use for. Most recipes that specify maple syrup are using it as a sweetening element, while most recipes that are calling for bourbon don’t look for sweetness. The result is something that fits in neither category, and seems best for enjoying on it’s own, using as a small amount of modify in place of bourbon base, or in fast Old Fashioneds. You might also consider it in a Stone Fence, where the maple and apple could work well together.
In Review – Knob Creek Smoked Maple
Knob Creek Smoked Maple is an unsurprisingly sweet and more refined maple liqueur. The underpinning of Knob Creek bourbon really gives it some character, but it is unmistakably sweet. Combined with the limited cocktail potential, this is a hard bottle to recommend to all but those who truly love maple syrup. Still, the liqueur inside isn’t bad, just not for everyone.
