I've Tried Hundreds of Whiskeys. This Cheap, Unique Blend Is My Favorite for Old Fashioneds
As the spirits editor for Men's Journal, I'm in the privileged position to try a slew of new expressions from popular distillers. Naturally, I often mix said bourbons, Scotches, and Japanese whiskies into classic cocktails, namely the old fashioned. To me, the best whiskeys are versatile, so if I can't toss it into a quick cocktail to watch a TV show on a chilly evening, it's probably not for me.
Luckily, I stumbled upon one new bottle that shone brighter than the rest: Knob Creek Bourbon x Rye. Released earlier this year, the new whiskey blends two Knob Creek favorites together. Every bottle contains 30 percent 9-year-old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey and 70 percent 7-year-old Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey.
A decade ago, "blend" was a dirty word when it came to American whiskey, Tim Heuisler, brand ambassador for Jim Beam, the distillery behind Knob Creek, told Men's Journal.
"People thought of it as bottom shelf whiskey," he said. "I think consumers and whiskey drinkers understand the power of blending and how much more it has to offer."
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And oh man, does Bourbon x Rye have a lot to offer. I poured the whiskey neat first, as I needed to understand the base whiskey to decide the proper ratio of other old fashioned ingredients. The nose was surprisingly light, with pretty classic bourbon notes of oak and vanilla with a touch of peanut. When the liquor touched my lips, I first noticed caramel and toffee before peppery rye spice took control. At 113 proof, there was a spark of heat in the sip's back end, leaving a surprisingly sweet, minty finish.
"It's a heavy hitter, but you don't feel it here," Heuisler said, putting his palm on his chest. "It hugs from the inside out, and this one's not bear hugging."
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Learning that, I knew exactly how I'd craft my old fashioned. Two fingers of Bourbon x Rye. A capful of Rose's Simple Syrup to round out the spice. Three dashes of Peychaud's bitters (one more than usual!) as to not lose that unique herbaceous finish. A big ice cube to mellow out the heat. And a big ol' stir with a cocktail spoon. Easy, efficient, and delicious—no citrus fruit needed.
If that's too simple for your taste, Heuisler has a suggestion. As a former bartender, he used to make bourbon old fashioneds with an orange peel, and rye old fashioneds with a lemon wedge. For Bourbon x Rye old fashioneds? Yup, you guessed it.
"We did a little orange peel muddled on the bottom with your sugar and bitters, then a lemon on top," he said.
Chris Hatler
As you can tell from the photo above, I've enjoyed Knob Creek Bourbon x Rye so much that I've nearly finished my bottle. So in closing, I asked Heuisler when the next release would be.
"As of right now, it's a one-time release," he said, before offering a nugget of hope. "But I'll say, if you follow our portfolio, we've done a lot of one-time releases, which then might become bi-annual."
Regardless of whether or not Bourbon x Rye returns, Heuisler assures me that Knob Creek will continue experimenting with similar releases: "The goal is always to put something out there that challenges, or maybe helps, the whiskey drinker to realize there's more out there than just your Kentucky straight bourbon and your Kentucky straight rye."
In the meantime, I'll be scouring my local liquor stores to hoard as many bottles as I can. And for a price point of $45 in my area, that could end up being a lot.
After all, it's quite literally now or never. Or, if I'm lucky, maybe in two years.
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