KCSB and Booker

[Bluffhunter]

This may have been done before but is Bookers worth the extra money/that much better than KCSB?

[393foureyedfox]

it depends on what you like in your drink.

these two I have mentioned many times before on their similarities, there is no denying that. Here's my take on them:

Booker's has a fantastic mouthfeel, with a fantastic blast of heat and flavors that is hard to beat, but its downside is that the aftertaste seems to fade rather quickly, leaving you wanting another sip (which could be a positive or negative by your perspective)

KCSB is a tad bit lighter on the mouthfeel, and feels like more than 7 proof points separates itt from Booker's to me. Very similar to Booker's but with a little less heat and maybe a bit more oakiness. The aftertaste seems to stick around considerably longer with the KCSB to me.

I keep thinking about mixing them 50-50 to get the best of both worlds, but I havent tried it yet. soon.......soon.

KCSB and Booker's tie at my second/3rd favorites. depending on the night, they switch back and forth, but stay at #2 and #3.

yeah, 6-9 years is the sweet spot to me

Edited January 20, 2014 by 393foureyedfox

[black mamba]

I think the younger and higher abv Booker's is a little more complex and concentrated in its flavors, while the older Knob shows more oak with a little more smoothness. Also never tried the mingling of the two, but it might be terrific.

[393foureyedfox]

this guy usually gives good info:

he ranks them both as superb (9.0-9.4), but puts the Bookers highest.

http://sourmashmanifesto.com/category/reviewsratings/bookers-reviewsratings/

http://sourmashmanifesto.com/category/reviewsratings/knob-creek-reviewsratings/

Edited January 20, 2014 by 393foureyedfox

[Flyfish]

This may have been done before but is Bookers worth the extra money/that much better than KCSB?

[Quantum]

It may depend on how you drink your Booker's. I prefer it neat in tiny sips. With water, it becomes pretty close to KC so there is no point in paying extra.

I second this. To get the mouthfeel foureyedfox mentioned, you really need to sip it neat. That extra proof is what makes Booker's worth it to me. Neat, Booker's wins hands down for me. If I proof them both down to about 100, I prefer KCSB.

[Flyfish]

this guy usually gives good info:

he ranks them both as superb (9.0-9.4), but puts the Bookers highest.

http://sourmashmanifesto.com/category/reviewsratings/bookers-reviewsratings/

http://sourmashmanifesto.com/category/reviewsratings/knob-creek-reviewsratings/

You can amend that to "used to give good info." Jason is an insightful taster but has been on hiatus for several months. I hope he climbs back up on that bar stool.

[Quantum]

You can amend that to "used to give good info." Jason is an insightful taster but has been on hiatus for several months. I hope he climbs back up on that bar stool.

Someone needs to stage an intervention. He needs to know how much not posting videos of himself drinking hurts those who care about him.

[393foureyedfox]

i rarely watched the tasting videos, but the write-ups were usually pretty good guides to go by

[GaryT]

I personally prefer Bookers over KCSB. Besides the higher proof, there are notes I get from it (like dark chocolate) that I just don't pull from KCSB, although KCSB is a respectable pour.

[393foureyedfox]

Im gonna pour a 50-50 of KCSB and Booker's right now before I forget it again........

and I was wrong, theyre better individually than mixed. I think I'll keep choosing based on whether I prefer to have the mouthfeel or the aftertaste on any given night. The nose, in particular, suffers from the mix....it reminds me of the acrid smell I loathed in the ECBP, though I dont know why that would be. The KCSB aftertaste does dominate in the mix though

Edited January 21, 2014 by 393foureyedfox

[Flyfish]

I personally prefer Bookers over KCSB. Besides the higher proof, there are notes I get from it (like dark chocolate) that I just don't pull from KCSB, although KCSB is a respectable pour.

I do find dark choc. in KCSB but for a real chocolate bomb I turn to EC BP (first release).

[Brisko]

Other than the obvious family resemblances, I don't think they're that much alike.

Booker's is right at that place where most or all of the nastiness has aged out but there's still a whole bunch of interesting flavors that originate from the distillate itself. Plenty of youthful exuberance but the oak is just starting to show its character.

Knob Single Barrel has a lot more obvious barrel influence-- as in, the barrel is starting to add good flavors in addition to taking the bad ones out. Typically the finish really showcases the barrel influence. This is not to say that it is super-woody. Nothing Beam puts out is overly woody, IMO, not even the new 12 year. There are whiskeys from HH and BT that have much more wood influence.

I like them both but for very different reasons.

Also, it may seem counter-intuitive, but I have found KCSB to be more consistent than Booker's. Booker's can be all over the map in terms of heat, mouthfeel, finish. I've never had one I didn't like but some of them are pretty wild. Knob seems to fall into a narrower profile.

[393foureyedfox]

There are whiskeys from HH and BT that have much more wood influence.

Edited January 21, 2014 by 393foureyedfox

[Brisko]

KC is probably dumped in larger batches than Bookers, making it more consistent.

:skep: Knob Single Barrel:skep:

[393foureyedfox]

:skep: Knob Single Barrel:skep:

damn. brain fart. disregard.......was thinking the regular KC for a minute there

Edited January 21, 2014 by 393foureyedfox

[Oboe Cadobro]

It may depend on how you drink your Booker's. I prefer it neat in tiny sips. With water, it becomes pretty close to KC so there is no point in paying extra.

^^THIS^^

A friend of mine and I did a side-by-side and watered the Bookers down with exactly enough to make it match the proof of the KC...tasted virtually identical.

[GaryT]

I do find dark choc. in KCSB but for a real chocolate bomb I turn to EC BP (first release).

Maybe the KCSB I had wasn't a great pic (or I wasn't paying clse enough attention), but you are spot on with the ECBP. That thing is like liquid snickers! :yum: