Review #807 - Knob Creek Blender's Edition 01

A new release from Jim Beam, and part of a growing trend that has been emerging: due to the downturn in whisky sales, large heritage distilleries are bottling more affordable whiskies that still appeal to the enthusiast. Knob Creek has always been a high-value brand in our minds, but this one could take the cake: it's a 10 year old bourbon, bottled at 106 proof, and the price is right around $40.

This is the first release in a new Knob Creek series: the 'Blender's Edition' releases. Edition 01 is centered around a sweeter batch of bourbon; the distillery team selected barrels of Knob Creek spirit that showcase the sweeter side of their profile. Based on the flavor wheel on the side label, compared to the standard 9 year Knob Creek bourbon, Beam suggests that this release will have stronger vanilla and oak notes, but a bit less in the way of char, caramel, and spice.

With that elevated strength, we're hopeful that the texture and length of finish will be better than average, too. So, what does $40 get you in today's bourbon market?

Knob Creek Blender's Edition 01

USA - Bourbon

Price: USD 41 (2026)

Age Statement: 10 Years

Strength: 53% ABV

Details: Bottled 2026

Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 3 times over 1 month; bottles at 100%, 80%, and 70% fill levels at times of review. Tasted in a nosing glass each time, rested 15+ minutes

Nose: Some classic nutty Jim Beam scents: almonds, then caramel and some cherry wood. Soft leather and dusty notes build, showing the oak presence, and we also get old furniture and some oak spice. Cranberry, candied orange peel, and subtle dark cherry are accents, along with vanilla and maple sugar.

Palate: Nutty and bright to start - hints of citrus like lemon and orange, but then light maraschino cherry. Leather and cherry cola notes grows stronger, and we get a strong vanilla flavor as well. Salted peanuts, pecans, caramel, and icing sugar come and go; this has a medium thickness mouthfeel.

Finish: Orange peel, brown sugar, both sweet and tart; blanched almonds and dry oak arrive, as well as vanilla wafer cookies and a bit of dry cinnamon. The aftertaste has subtle hints of dark cherry and tobacco, and this finish has a medium length.

Final Note: This bourbon still shows some classic Beam character with those bright nutty notes and the strong, leathery oak, but we found that this specific example really turned up the vanilla and bright red fruit flavors. It definitely leans sweet overall as well, though that stronger oak adds a nice balance into the finish. Texture is decent, flavor density is decent... it's a good bourbon in general.

Value is excellent - the highest we've rated in a while. We can get this for $41, and we think that's a steal for the quality, flavor, and age statement. We would definitely recommend picking this up, especially if you like the Knob Creek profile.

Our Rating: 7.0 / 10

In the current whisky landscape of increasing prices and variable quality, we've added a value rating to our reviews that relates to the score and the available pricing of each whisky. This roughly equates to a 0-10 scale; no reviews so far have exceeded a score of 10, although it is technically possible for the formula to produce a value rating higher than 10 with a high enough score and low enough price.

Value Rating: 8.12

About Us: We're a husband and wife review team living in the Midwest United States. Generally, our reviews and tasting notes will be a compilation of both of our experiences with a whisky over several tasting sessions.