Knob Creek Brought Back Its Oldest Bourbon, a 21-Year-Old Expression

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There’s a whiskey mantra that is worth repeating: older does not necessarily mean better! That is particularly true when it comes to bourbon, although there are exceptions—and Knob Creek’s oldest age statement to date is actually a bottle that lives up to its expectations. The brand just announced that this limited release is back for 2026, which is great news if you can find a bottle.

When Knob Creek 21 was first announced last year, there were plenty of skeptics, including this writer. Bourbon matures in a much warmer environment than scotch, and it must be aged in new charred oak barrels instead of used casks. That means the interaction between whiskey and wood is quite active, and a bourbon aged for more than about 15 years in Kentucky can easily go overboard and become an bitter, tannic oak bomb.

That was not the case with Knob Creek 21, however, a whiskey that I thought that actually surpassed the 18-year expression. Knob Creek’s core bourbon is a 9-year-old whiskey bottled at 100 proof, a great option for sipping or mixing. The brand—which is part of the Jim Beam Small Batch Collection along with Baker’s, Booker’s, and Basil Hayden—started adding limited-edition age statements to its lineup a few years ago, releasing 12, 15, and 18-year-old expressions that were very well received by Beam fans.

If I had to make one complaint about the 21, it’s that it is bottled at 100 proof, which is the same ABV as most of the lineup. Beam global ambassador Tim Heuisler told Robb Report last year that the bourbon came out of the barrel at about 110 proof after more than two decades in oak, and only about a quarter of the liquid remained due to the angel’s share. I imagine that the bourbon would taste even better closer to that cask strength, which in this case is not extremely high, but it’s a very good whiskey nonetheless. We did not get to sample the latest batch, but the tasting notes I listed for last year’s release described a palate led by the classic Beam peanut flavor, surrounded by flavors like dark chocolate, blackberry, maple, leather, tobacco, bruleed vanilla, and toasted coconut.

At $250, the price has not increased for this year’s release, and it looks like you can currently find a bottle for close to that. Knob Creek 21 is a limited release, but it’s currently available at specialty liquor stores around the country and websites like Total Wine.