Knob Creek Rye was first introduced in 2012 and the brand line now includes a single barrel, 7 year, a blend of bourbon and rye, and a 10 year version. The new Knob Creek 10 Year Old Rye became a permanent addition to the Knob Creek portfolio in mid-2024.

You’re introduced to a noticeably mild aroma for a 100 proof rye. Though its intensity may be light, it features a broad range of scents. It begins with a mix of grain and hay that quickly transfers to sweet candy corn. From there, the aroma turns into mint, sage, and eucalyptus. The combination provides a refreshing middle ground before ending on rich caramel and orange on the backend. It’s a surprisingly dynamic aroma with a distinct beginning, middle, and end, keeping the drinker engaged. Though a swirl of the glass helps liven up the scents, it remains noticeably gentle overall.

Immediate caramel and barrel char notes hit your tongue before entering into anise territory. The anise provides more of a gentle flavoring agent than a dominating one. Combined with light eucalyptus and mint notes, it helps give the sip a refreshing quality. From there, orange and candy corn can be tasted, but they struggle to blossom against the lingering oak notes. The palate leans sweet but never fully commits, leaving it more simple-tasting than desired. Its semi-oily mouthfeel combined with its flavors works well together, but overall, the palate never truly takes off.

A swirl of rye spice commences the finish, leaning into its rye heritage. Dry oak is then injected against a coffee lover's mix of mocha, tempered cinnamon, and nutmeg. Touches of clove and anise can be tasted but are overpowered by the rise of tobacco. All of the flavors have good staying power that help elevate the sip from average territory. The lack of overt sweetness or fruitiness is most noticeable on the finish, but isn’t as dynamic as other parts of the sip.

As we’ve explored the many 10 year old ryes on the market - a category that barely existed 5 years ago - there are many similarities among them, but some brands definitely stand out over others. When Jim Beam introduced rye to their product lineup in 2012, they were ahead of where many other distilleries would eventually end up in the following years. Elijah Craig and Old Forester, to name two, followed suit. But a commonality among these and Jim Beam’s offerings, even to this day, is that while good, they rarely impress and truly stand out.

These ryes come across as mass-market ryes, meaning they are meant to appeal to a wide range of drinkers. Their edges have been rounded, their rough spots smoothed, and flavors are tight and predictable. Knob Creek 10 Year Rye encompasses these qualities. Though oak is strung throughout its sip, it doesn’t taste noticeably “aged.” There is a surprising amount of youthful vigor still in this release, with hay, caramel, and an overall brightness that is not often found in other ryes of a similar age. One of its most unique traits is its flavor range of anise, eucalyptus, and mint, which can be noticed throughout its sip in different degrees of intensity. Knob Creek 10 Year Rye is a whiskey that has moments of uniqueness, but they quickly end and you’re instantly brought back to familiar territory.

Knob Creek 10 Year Rye’s $75 price point puts it squarely in the zone of many other 10 year old ryes on the market. There is Bulleit Rye 10 Year at $50, the Canadian-made WhistlePig 10 Year Rye at $70, Templeton 10 Year Rye at $85, Beam’s own Old Overholt Cask Strength Rye 10 Year at $100, and Michter’s 10 Year Rye at $200.

Of those mentioned, Knob Creek 10 Year Rye showcases its age in the least impressive way. In a pure head-to-head, it presents its overall quality well and probably has the most widespread appeal, but at this price, most would expect more. If approachability is key, Bulleit Rye 10 Year is your best bet at $50. If uniqueness is key, the more limited Mad River Distillers Founders Reserve 10 Year Rye for $85 takes the crown. If quality is your goal, the bump to $200 for Michter’s 10 Year Rye is hard to top. In the now crowded field of 10 year old ryes, Knob Creek 10 Year Rye has a hard time truly standing out based on its price alone.

Knob Creek 10 Year Rye is being introduced in a time where competition is much stronger than it was a mere 5 years ago. With many more options available with similar age statements, Knob Creek 10 Year Rye can’t rely on its age alone. With many of these 10 year old rye options also priced similarly, Knob Creek 10 Year Rye now finds itself in an increasingly crowded space

For a rye with a 10 year old age statement many may not even notice, and that’s a major issue. Oak may penetrate much of its sip, but it never truly enters aged oak territory. The rye is surprisingly bright and expressive for its age, which is one area the whiskey actually truly shines. But compared to the many decade old ryes on the market - most that are similarly priced - Knob Creek 10 Year Rye struggles to fully compete.