Knob Creek bourbon and rye in Westford, MA

Knob Creek is a Kentucky straight bourbon line from Jim Beam's small batch family, bottled at 100 proof, and CBC Liquors at 142 Littleton Rd in Westford carries six of its bottles. You can see the whole range on our Knob Creek brand page, from the straight bourbon to the 18 year.

Which Knob Creek bottles does CBC Liquors carry?

Our Knob Creek page lists six bottles. There is the core Knob Creek Straight Bourbon Whiskey, the Knob Creek 12 Year Bourbon, and the older Knob Creek 18 Year.

The line also includes a rye side. The Knob Creek Bourbon Rye and the Knob Creek 7 Year Rye 100 Proof are both there, along with the Knob Creek Independence Edition Bourbon.

If you are choosing between them, the sections below explain what the numbers on the label mean and which bottle suits how you plan to drink it.

What is Knob Creek, and where does it come from?

Knob Creek is a straight bourbon brand made in Kentucky by the Jim Beam distilling family. It sits in Beam's small batch collection, which is a group of bourbons bottled at higher strength and with more age than the standard Jim Beam white label.

The name comes from Knob Creek, the Kentucky creek near where Abraham Lincoln spent part of his boyhood. The brand uses that history on its labels and in its marketing.

The style is what people usually mean when they search for the name: a full, oaky, high-proof bourbon with plenty of vanilla, caramel and toasted wood. It is a bourbon built to hold up on ice and in a cocktail, not one that is meant to be quiet.

What do the age statement and 100 proof on the label tell you?

Proof is twice the alcohol percentage, so 100 proof is 50 percent alcohol by volume. That is noticeably stronger than the 80 proof you find on many standard bottles of whiskey, and it is a large part of why Knob Creek tastes fuller and hotter on the first sip.

An age statement tells you the youngest whiskey in the bottle. A 12 year bourbon has nothing in it younger than twelve years in the barrel, and an 18 year has nothing younger than eighteen. Longer time in charred oak generally brings more wood, spice and dried-fruit character and takes some of the raw grain edge off.

The label also says straight bourbon. By US rules that means the whiskey is at least two years old, made from a mash that is at least 51 percent corn, aged in new charred oak, and has no added colouring or flavouring.

The core Knob Creek straight bourbon carries a nine year age statement, which is one reason the line is often described as an older, richer step up from entry-level bourbon.

How is Knob Creek rye different from the bourbon?

Bourbon is built on corn, which gives it a sweeter, rounder body. Rye whiskey has to be made from at least 51 percent rye grain, which pushes the flavour toward pepper, baking spice and a drier finish.

The Knob Creek Bourbon Rye and the 7 Year Rye at 100 proof give you that spicier profile in the same house style. If you already like the bourbon and want something with more bite, rye is the natural next bottle.

Rye is also the traditional base for a Manhattan and a classic Sazerac, so it earns its place on a home bar even if you mostly sip bourbon. You can browse more in our rye section, or compare it with the rest of the bourbon shelf.

How do you drink Knob Creek?

Because it is bottled at 100 proof, it is worth tasting a small pour neat first, then adding a little water or a single large ice cube. A few drops of water open up the aroma and soften the alcohol heat without flattening the flavour.

In cocktails, the higher proof means the bourbon is not lost behind sugar or citrus. An old fashioned is the obvious choice: a sugar cube or a little syrup, a few dashes of bitters, ice, and an orange peel. A Manhattan works well with the rye.

For longer drinks, bourbon and ginger beer, or bourbon with cola, both hold up. We stock mixers if you need ginger beer, bitters or soda to go with the bottle.

Pour in measured amounts and drink at a pace that suits you. This is a strong spirit, and it is for adults aged 21 and over.

Which Knob Creek bottle should you start with?

If you have not tried it before, start with the Knob Creek Straight Bourbon Whiskey. It is the core bottle of the line, it shows the house style most clearly, and it works neat, on ice and in cocktails.

If you want more age and a smoother finish, the 12 Year Bourbon is the step up. It is the one to reach for if you mostly sip bourbon rather than mix it.

If you already know the line and want something different, try the rye. It will taste drier and spicier than the bourbons, and it makes a very different old fashioned.

If you want to compare Knob Creek with other whiskeys, our whiskey and bourbon pages sit alongside it, and our staff can point you to a few bottles in the shop.

What are the Knob Creek 18 year and Independence Edition for?

The Knob Creek 18 Year is the oldest bottle in the line we carry. Eighteen years in oak is a long time for bourbon, and the result is usually deeper and more wood-driven than the younger bottles. It is a bottle for sipping slowly, neat or with a drop of water, rather than for mixing.

The Knob Creek Independence Edition Bourbon is a separate bottling from the core range. Ask us about it when you come in, and we can tell you what we have on the shelf.

Both make sense as a gift for someone who already drinks bourbon. If you are putting together a bigger order for a party, our party planner is a good place to start.

How do you get Knob Creek from CBC Liquors in Westford?

You can walk in to the store at 142 Littleton Rd, Westford, MA 01886. We are open Sunday 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Monday to Thursday 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM, and Friday and Saturday 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM. Pickup runs on the same hours.

We also offer delivery, with delivery hours of Sunday 10:00 AM to 7:30 PM, Monday to Thursday 10:00 AM to 8:30 PM, and Friday and Saturday 10:00 AM to 9:30 PM. Our delivery areas page lists the towns we serve, including Chelmsford, Acton, Littleton and Lowell.

Shipping is offered as well. Our customers rate us 4.7 out of 5 across 339 Google reviews, and the shop carries 4,613 products from 1,888 brands, so you can add Knob Creek to a larger order from our liquor range.