Squire wrote:In respect to age and proof Knob Creek is what Beam used to be.
WTF!? I'm not sure what "Beam" you're referring to here. Regular white-label Jim Beam was always four years old and 80 proof (it might have been 86 at one time, but that would have been VERY long ago).
As to age and proof, Knob Creek (the regular bottling) has never NOT been been 100 proof and nine years old, a factor so viciously adhered to that the company once notified their distributors, during a time of overselleing, that they would allow the stock to run out completely rather than back off on the bottling age. And they meant it; when the stock ran out they didn't ship any more. That's not what most companies do, and while it might have been given a cute marketing spin, it made a somewhat risky impression on the major distributors. Basically Fred Noe & Co. said to them, "take it or leave it, boys; this is our whiskey and we'll let ya know when we've got more to sell."
I made a comment recently on Chuck Cowdery's blog about how Fred Noe's credibility has grown, and Knob Creek is a REAL good example, since Fred has chosen to identify his persona with that brand more than most. Knob Creek Single Barrel, at barrel proof AND nine years old, is arguably a better bourbon than 8-year-old barrel-strength Booker's, and for all the same reasons that Fred Noe may be a better brand ambassador for Jim Beam than was his iconic father.
Sorry Squire, but other than the basic white dog from which both brands are produced, there is practically no simularity all between Jim Beam (white) and Knob Creek. Especially in respect to age and proof.