Agitator Kentucky Bourbon Manhattan

My original review of Agitator Kentucky Bourbon left me less than impressed. As a sipper it scored a 50/100. That put it in Mixers or On Ice territory. It is only a $35 bottle but I still hate to poor booze down the drain just because it isn’t Sip Worthy.

That is when I break out my Vermouth and see if making a Manhattan will boost the score a little.

I used my standard recipe for a Manhattan, mixing bourbon to vermouth in a 2 to 1 ratio.

I tried this Agitator Manhattan with, and without Orange Bitters.

Agitator Kentucky Bourbon Manhattan
Agitator Kentucky Bourbon Manhattan

I was thinking the red wine finish on this Agitator bourbon would pair well with vermouth and make an amazing Manhattan.

Boy, was I wrong. What I was hoping would become a nice pairing of red wine and vermouth, turned out to clash, and badly.

Agitator Kentucky Bourbon Manhattan Scoring

I’m giving this Agitator Manhattan a 49/100, put it in Just Bad territory.

Pros:

  • If you like cheap whiskey with strong red wine notes, this might be for you.

Cons:

  • The red wine finish from the Agitator clashes with the vermouth.
BottleScorePriceType
Basil Hayden’s Manhattan95$30 / 750mlManhattan
Balcones Lineage Manhattan92$40 / 750mlManhattan
Blade And Bow Manhattan90$50 / 750mlManhattan
On The Rocks Knob Creek Old Fashioned83$15 / 350mlOld Fashioned
Fistful of Bourbon Manhattan80$40 / 750mlManhattan
Death’s Door Manhattan74$40 / 750mlManhattan
Wild Turkey Manhattan73$30 / 750mlManhattan
Knob Creek Small Batch Manhattan69$30 / 750mlManhattan
Maker’s Mark Manhattan65$30 / 750mlManhattan
Redemption Bourbon Manhattan53$30 / 750mlManhattan
Stillhouse Black Bourbon Manhattan50$20 / 750mlManhattan
Agitator Kentucky Bourbon Manhattan49$35 / 750mlManhattan
Breaker Manhattan35$55 / 750mlManhattan
American XXX Born Bourbon Whiskey Manhattan35$25 / 750mlManhattan

See how all Whiskeys, Tequilas and Vodkas Rank!

Whiskey Dreams – Knob Creek Small Batch

Knob Creek Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon is produced at the Jim Beam distillery in Clermont Kentucky. Jim Beam is in turned owned by Beam Suntory of Osaka, Japan. The whiskey is aged for 9 years in white oak barrels and bottled at 100 proof.

Knob Creek Small Batch

The nose on this Knob Creek Small Batch is strong. Not in a bad way, it is just very in your face, or in your nose I guess. The first note is strong burnt marshmallow and sugar that hides faint hits of vanilla under it. Surprisingly there isn’t really a lot of alcohol on the nose, which I was expecting given that its 100 proof.

The next surprise was on the tongue. I was expecting the same strong notes from the nose to come through on the palate, but it was actually more subdued. There is brown sugar and marshmallow, and I found they did stick to my tongue. From the moment this dark Bourbon touched my tongue there is that sweetness that gets a touch of leather on the finish. I couldn’t taste any of the Vanilla though. It was hinted at on the nose, but I just couldn’t find it on the tongue.

I’m not sure if it is the proof and the sweetness that didn’t seem to work for me. While Knob Creek Small Batch is 100 proof, it wasn’t really the alcohol I didn’t like either. It was just something about how the burnt sugar stuck to my tongue. A nice long finish is awesome, but if it hangs around too long it’s not quite as enjoyable.

I did however find that a few ice cubes really helped to cut down that sweetness and helped to soften the finish. Knob Creek Small Batch earned itself a 49/100.

Color

Dark amber and brown.

Proof

50.0% ABV

Pros

  • The strong nose is oddly enjoyable.
  • If you like burnt marshmallow, you will love this.

Cons

  • The finish leaves something to be desired.
  • Really just has one note on the palate. The burnt sugar overpowers everything else.
BottleScorePriceType
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Redbreast Lustau Edition92$65 / 750mlIrish Whiskey
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Jameson IPA Edition80$30 / 750mlIrish Whiskey
Redbreast Kentucky Oak Edition Irish Whiskey80$125 / 750mlIrish Whiskey
Don Julio 194280$190 / 750mlTequila
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West Cork Irish Whiskey77$30 / 750mlIrish Whiskey
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Tullamore D.E.W Irish Whiskey 12 Year73$55 / 750mlIrish Whiskey
John L. Sullivan Irish Whiskey72$25 / 750mlIrish Whiskey
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Tito’s Vodka69$30 / 750mlVodka
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McConnell’s Irish Whisky66$25 / 750mlIrish Whiskey
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Wild Turkey Bourbon63$30 / 750mlBourbon
Drumshanbo Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey62$65 / 750mlIrish Whiskey
Stillhouse Black Bourbon61$20 / 750mlBourbon
Maker’s Mark Bourbon60$30 / 750mlBourbon
Fighting Cock Bourbon58$20 / 750mlBourbon
Jameson Orange55$30 / 750mlIrish Whiskey
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Kilbrin 10 Year Single Malt Irish Whiskey52$55 / 750mlIrish Whiskey
Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 Tennessee Whiskey51$30 / 750mlBourbon
Agitator Kentucky Bourbon50$35 / 750mlBourbon
Howler Head Whiskey50$25 / 700mlWhiskey
Knob Creek Small Batch49$35 / 750mlBourbon
Blade And Bow48$50 / 750mlBourbon
Proclamation Irish Whiskey44$30 / 750mlIrish Whiskey
The Temple Bar Irish Whiskey40$60 / 750mlIrish Whiskey
Redemption Bourbon 40$30 / 750mlBourbon
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