Knob Creek “Almost 10 Year” Bourbon Club of Arkansas Barrel Pick

Last Updated on January 18, 2024 by 5e2793

PUBLISH DATE: January 18 2024

The Bourbon Club of Arkansas (BCA) has officially added another standout barrel pick to its growing portfolio—an “almost 10-year” Knob Creek Single Barrel, selected by the club’s tasting panel and released in partnership with Ace Liquor Center.

Aged 9 years and 360 days—just five days shy of 10 years, this barrel represents the type of high-age, high-character bourbon that BCA members consistently seek out. Despite its proof and maturity, the whiskey delivers balance, depth, and exceptional drinkability.

Barrel Selection & Release Details

Shortly after release, Gary Penna shared the full technical breakdown and detailed tasting notes, confirming just how special this barrel turned out to be.

Gary Penna
April 23, 2024 – Facebook

“This was one whiskey that I was looking forward to for a long, long time…
Bourbon Club of Arkansas exclusive pick
Proof: 120
Age: 9 years, 360 days old 😉
Warehouse: I
Floor: 6
Rick: 047

Nose: Chocolate covered cherries, deep vanilla and caramel, beautiful oak with a little pine on the backend. I smell Christmas in a glass.
Palate: Chocolate covered cherry, vanilla wafer, zero oak upfront, spice and nutmeg on the backend. Candy-like flavors that stay on the palate for minutes.
Finish: Incredible mouthfeel, not hot for the proof, finishing with chocolate covered cherry and baker’s chocolate.
Overall: 🥃🥃🥃🥃.5 — If you missed out on this, I don’t know what to tell you.”

Gary Penna
January 18, 2024 – Facebook

“Our winner almost a 10yr! Knob Creek!
The highest proof knocked down to 120 for bottling.
Hand picked by Justin, Dustin, David and Gary.
This one will be extremely limited it sounds like so get ready for the ‘in’ post next week!”

Following an initial priority window for event attendees, the remaining bottles were opened up to the wider group.

Gary Penna
April 11, 2024 – Facebook

“OK I gave everybody who went to the event, PLENTY of time to say ‘in’ to the Knob Creek, so now I’m opening up to everyone else in the group…
59.99 before tax at Ace Liquor Center!
Pickup starts on Monday!”

At $59.99 before tax, the bottle quickly gained a reputation as one of the best value barrel picks of the year.

Community Tasting Notes & Reviews

Once bottles reached members’ hands, feedback from the Arkansas bourbon community was overwhelmingly positive.

Matt Sharpe
April 22, 2024 – Facebook

“Color: beautiful dark amber, and it’s got really nice legs on it.
Nose: cherry, almond, mild oak, slight ethanol at the end.
Palate: thick mouthfeel, almond and fruit forward, smooth oak, followed by a tingly spice.
Finish: balanced sweetness and rye with a lingering Kentucky hug.
Overall: a well-balanced, all-around bourbon and a great buy for 60 bucks.”

Another member compared the profile to one of Old Forester’s most respected limited releases.

Jeff Franzetti
May 22, 2024 – Facebook

“Dessert profile right out of the gate—red berries, dark chocolate, buttered popcorn.
Luscious mouthfeel, strong but not hot, and perfectly aged without being overly oaked.
The finish turns peppery and coats the throat.
This reminds me of the Old Forester 117 Series ‘1910 Extra Extra Old.’
Stellar pick by BCA and well worth the price.”

About Knob Creek Distillery

Knob Creek Distillery is one of the flagship brands in the Small Batch Bourbon Collection produced in Clermont, Kentucky. Introduced in 1992, Knob Creek helped usher in the modern era of premium bourbon by emphasizing longer aging, higher proof, and full-flavored profiles at a time when many distilleries were moving in the opposite direction.

Known for its robust oak character and bold spice, Knob Creek barrels often age for nine years or more, making “almost 10-year” selections particularly desirable. When paired with single-barrel bottlings and minimal proof reduction, these releases tend to showcase deep complexity while maintaining balance—qualities clearly reflected in this BCA pick.

Final Thoughts

This Knob Creek “Almost 10 Year” BCA Barrel Pick reinforces why club-selected single barrels remain some of the most compelling bottles in the Arkansas bourbon scene. With near-decade aging, thoughtful proofing, and strong community feedback, it stands as one of the best value-driven, high-age picks of 2024.