Normally we live by a very strict rule here at The Manual: Don’t screw with the flavor of bourbon. It’s already awesome, and definitely doesn’t need any frilly additives and flavors. That being said, however, we’re willing to make an exception to our rule for Knob Creek’s latest concoction: Smoked Maple Bourbon.
Typically when a distillery makes a flavored whiskey, they do it with a younger, lower-quality spirit. But that’s not the case with Knob Creek. Rather than using some sub-par bourbon and masking its mediocre taste with flavorings, Knob starts their Smoked Maple with the same top-notch bourbon we all know and love. The result is a flavored bourbon that still tastes like bourbon. What a novel idea!
The smoke flavor is subtle and understated, as it should be. It doesn’t overpower the whiskey with that horrid fake liquid smoke flavor. It’s warm, light, and plays well with the mild sweetness of the maple and bourbon. Speaking of which, the maple flavor is also extremely well-balanced, with just enough sweetness to keep you coming back for more, but not so much that you feel like you’re drinking syrup.
Knob Creek released it earlier this fall, so you should be able to track a bottle down at your local liquor store. Go now, before it starts disappearing from shelves!
