knob creek

Thanksgiving Cocktail Ideas

Turkey time is almost here.  To help celebrate my favorite holiday, I thought I’d share some cocktail ideas from Knob Creek, Basil Hayden, Laphroaig and Cruzan Rum.

KC_Old Fashoined Holiday

Photo courtesy Knob Creek

Knob Creek® Old Fashioned Holiday (recipe by Celebrity Chef Michael Symon)
Ingredients:
1 1/2 Parts Knob Creek® Rye Whiskey
1/2 Part Cinnamon Syrup
1/2 Part Lemon
1 Part Wild Ale (like Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales®)
1 Egg White
Nutmeg for Garnish

Method: Combine all ingredients in a bar tin without ice. Shake for 20 seconds. Add ice and shake for another 20 seconds. Double strain into chilled lowball glass and garnish with grated nutmeg.

Cruzan® Sparkling Honey Diamond

Photo courtesy Cruzan Rum

Cruzan® Sparkling Honey Diamond

Ingredients: 

1 1/2 parts Cruzan® Estate Diamond® Dark Rum 
3/4 part Lime Juice
3/4 part Honey Syrup
Sparkling Wine 
 
Method: Combine rum, juice and syrup over ice and shake for 15 seconds. Fine strain into a chilled champagne flute. Top with sparkling wine.
 
Laphroaig_Montgomerie Smoked Cider
Laphroaig® Montgomerie Smoked Cider
Ingredients:
1 1⁄2 parts Laphroaig® 10 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky
3 parts apple cider
1 part fresh lemon sour

Method: Build over ice in order. Garnish with a lemon wedge.
 
Basil Hayden's Spiced Cocoa

Photo courtesy Basil Hayden

Basil Hayden’s® Spiced Cocoa
Ingredients:
2 parts Basil Hayden’s® Bourbon
1/4 part Nocello® Walnut Liqueur
2 parts Spicy Hot Cocoa* (see recipe below)
2 Chili Peppers (for garnish)

Method: Pre-heat mug by filling it with hot water – discard water after 30 seconds. Add Basil Hayden’s® Bourbon and Nocello® Walnut Liqueur to the heated mug. Add the spicy hot cocoa and gently mix together. Garnish with chili peppers.

 
Spicy Hot Cocoa*
Ingredients:
1/2 Tbsp. Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
1/2 Tbsp. Sugar
Pinch of Salt
Pinch of Cayenne Pepper
1/4 Cup Water

Method: Mix dry ingredients together, add hot water and stir until dissolved.

Knob Creek Single Barrel Bourbon Review

Knob Creek SB

I like single barrel expressions, especially when they are barrel proof or close to it.  These releases give us something unique in that different barrels will slightly vary in taste and smell.  This happens because the wood that composes the barrels differ in age, grain structure, etc.

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Knob Creek Bourbon Whiskey Review

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Knob Creek bourbon is the best selling whiskey of Jim Beam’s Small Batch Collection.  It’s a small batch bourbon aged nine years at 100 proof.  Knob Creek is named after Abraham Lincoln’s childhood home, Knob Creek Farm.  I’m no stranger to this one – this is the third bottle I’ve owned over the years.  I’ve got friends who swear by it.  It MUST be good, right?

The common theme for Knob Creek is wood.  There’s lots of it.  On the nose there’s vibrant oak, vanilla, spice and a tad of caramel.  The palate is no different – lots of char and vanilla.  There’s a little cinnamon spice, brown sugar and caramel there, but they play second fiddle to the oak.  It’s got a medium semi-sweet finish.  That was tasting it neat.  Over some ice, the sweet notes make their presence further known.

Knob Creek sure has a lot of oak for a 9 year old bourbon.  It’s pretty good.  What keeps it from being great is an unbalance of flavors.  The oak and sweetness never compliment each other.  Rather, they seem to be competing for dominance, with the victor oftentimes being the charred wood flavors.  That being said, something about it keeps me coming back.  Like I mentioned earlier, this is the third bottle I’ve purchased over the last several years.  The flavors are pretty bold for a bourbon.  I think its $35 price point makes Knob Creek an affordable, robust bourbon worthy of a purchase.

7.5/10