Knob Creek 2001 Limited Edition Bourbon Whiskey
Knob Creek 2001 Limited Edition Bourbon Whiskey is a 100-proof (50% ABV), 750mL Kentucky straight bourbon — aged more than 14 years, the oldest Knob Creek release of its era, in a commemorative wooden case — available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- ABV: 50% (100 proof)
- Age: 14+ years — longest-aged Knob Creek at release
- Size: 750mL, packaged in a commemorative wooden case
- Provenance: barrels laid down in 2001 by Booker Noe, finished by Fred Noe
- Batches: three limited batches (Batch 1 sweet, Batch 2 oaky, Batch 3 balanced)
- Distillery: Jim Beam Distilling Co., Clermont, Kentucky
Booker's Barrels, Fred's Finish
Late in 2001, the stewardship of Knob Creek passed from father to son — from the legendary Booker Noe to Fred Noe — and the barrels laid down that year became this limited edition. Booker filled them; after his passing in 2004, Fred shepherded them through more than 14 years of maturation in deeply charred new American oak, five years longer than the standard Knob Creek. Bottled at an honest 100 proof and released in three distinct limited batches, the 2001 Limited Edition is both a tribute and a time capsule — the pre-Prohibition-style bourbon Booker sought to restore, aged longer than any Knob Creek before it.
Tasting Notes
Nose: robust charred oak and dark caramel, warm brown spice — cinnamon and nutmeg — over sweet vanilla. Palate: rich and mouth-coating — honey, vanilla, and caramel up front, then ripe stone fruit, toasted oak, and a peppery back from the rye in the mash bill. Finish: smooth, warm sweetness with lingering oak and spice.
How to Enjoy
Neat, at room temperature, in a Glencairn — this is a bourbon that was built for slow contemplation. A few drops of water will open the vanilla and dark fruit without dulling the oak structure.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes the 2001 Limited Edition special? It commemorates the year Booker Noe passed stewardship of Knob Creek to his son Fred — made from barrels Booker laid down in 2001 and finished by Fred after 14+ years.
Are the three batches different? Yes — Batch 1 leans sweet (vanilla, caramel), Batch 2 leans oaky and tannic, and Batch 3 sits in between.
What proof is it? 100 proof (50% ABV) — the honest, pre-Prohibition-style strength Knob Creek is known for.
The longest-aged Knob Creek of its generation — order the 2001 Limited Edition online from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.