The football season is reaching its most exciting stretch, and Knob Creek has just released something special for those who appreciate a serious bourbon. The distillery has partnered once more with former NFL quarterback Eli Manning to launch their second limited-edition barrel release: Knob Creek Single Barrel Cask Strength Bourbon, Eli Manning's Bold Pick: 2026 Batch.
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This isn't just another celebrity endorsement slapped on a bottle. Manning actually traveled to the James B. Beam Distilling Co. in Clermont, Kentucky, where he personally hand-selected this particular barrel from among the distillery's finest offerings. The selection process matters here because what ends up in the bottle is straight from that single barrel, bottled at cask strength without any filtering or cutting with water.
What Makes This Bourbon Different
Cask strength means the bourbon goes into the bottle exactly as it comes out of the barrel, with no dilution. For this release, that translates to proofs ranging from 112.2 to 121.6 - significantly stronger than standard bourbon offerings. The higher proof doesn't just mean more alcohol content. It carries more flavor compounds, creating a more intense drinking experience.
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According to those who've tasted it, this bourbon opens with rich vanilla and toasted oak flavors. As it sits on the palate, roasted nuts and warm spice notes come through, finishing with what's described as a long, full-bodied warmth. It's the kind of bourbon that demands to be sipped slowly, not mixed into something sweeter or knocked back quickly.
Freddie Noe, the eighth generation master distiller at Beam, explained the philosophy behind working with Manning on this project. "Football teams are built on trust - trusting your picks, your preparation, and your instincts, whether you're on the field or managing your fantasy lineup," Noe said. "That same mindset guides how we make bourbon. Working with Eli last year set a high bar and bringing him back this season raised it. We put some of our finest barrels in front of him, and this one stood out right away. Bottled at cask strength, it delivers more intensity and more flavor - a full-bodied bourbon built for game day."
From Fantasy Football to Premium Bourbon
The partnership between Knob Creek and Manning started with something many fans can relate to: fantasy football. Throughout the season, they've been sharing picks and advice on matchups, tying that decision-making process to the kind of bold choices bourbon makers face when selecting barrels.
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Manning himself drew parallels between his role in selecting this bourbon and the choices fans make during a football season. "At this point in the season, you've made your calls, and it's now about seeing them through," Manning explained. "Hand-picking this barrel was a bold pick of its own - balanced, uncompromising, and full of character. It held up every time I came back to it, and that's exactly what I expect from Knob Creek when it counts most: a bourbon worthy of the biggest moments."
That consistency matters in bourbon selection. Barrels can vary significantly, even when they're filled with the same whiskey and aged in the same warehouse. Temperature fluctuations, position in the rickhouse, and subtle differences in the wood all contribute to the final flavor. When someone tastes multiple samples from different barrels and keeps returning to the same one, that says something about the quality of that particular barrel.
The Knob Creek Approach
Knob Creek has built its reputation on what they call pre-Prohibition style bourbon. Founding distiller Booker Noe introduced this approach back in 1992, focusing on full-flavored whiskey that wasn't diluted down for mass appeal. The brand ages its bourbon and rye in new, maximum charred American Oak barrels, extracting deep flavors from the wood.
Over the past three decades, Knob Creek has expanded its lineup considerably. They added a straight rye whiskey in 2012, followed by a single barrel select rye. More recent years have seen the permanent addition of a 12-year-old bourbon and limited releases of 15, 18, and 21-year-old expressions. They've also released Knob Creek Bourbon x Rye and have been building out their rye portfolio with age-stated offerings including a 7-year-old and 10-year-old rye whiskey.
The single barrel cask strength releases represent something different from these core offerings. While those expressions showcase Knob Creek's house style at specific ages, the single barrel releases highlight individual barrels that stand out for their exceptional character.
Game Day Rituals and Bourbon
Knob Creek and Manning have positioned this release specifically around the biggest games of the season. The suggestion is that certain moments call for something better than everyday drinks - championships, crucial playoff games, or just gathering with friends to watch football.
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They've been promoting Eli's Gameday Old Fashioned as the cocktail of choice, ideally made with this 2026 Batch. An Old Fashioned traditionally showcases the bourbon itself with minimal additions - just sugar, bitters, and a citrus peel. With a cask strength bourbon, that cocktail becomes something much more robust than what most people serve at home.
The higher proof also means this bourbon can stand up to a bit of water or ice without losing its character. Many bourbon enthusiasts actually prefer to add a few drops of water to cask strength releases, which helps open up different flavor notes and makes the alcohol less overwhelming.
Limited Availability and Pricing
This release is hitting stores nationwide but only for a limited time. Knob Creek is pricing it at $69.99 for a 750ml bottle. That puts it in the premium bourbon category, though not at the extreme high end where some limited releases land.
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For comparison, standard Knob Creek bourbon typically retails around $30-35, while their 12-year expression sits closer to $60. The premium for this release reflects both the cask strength bottling and Manning's involvement in the selection process.
Limited releases like this one tend to move quickly, especially when they're tied to a celebrity partnership. Bourbon enthusiasts often seek out these special editions, as do fans of the celebrity involved. Manning's two Super Bowl victories with the New York Giants have kept him popular with football fans long after his retirement.
The Broader Context
This release comes at a time when premium bourbon continues to dominate shelf space and consumer interest. American whiskey has seen explosive growth over the past two decades, with bourbon leading the way. What was once primarily a regional spirit has become a global phenomenon, with bottles being shipped to markets around the world.
Celebrity bourbon partnerships have become increasingly common as brands look for ways to stand out in a crowded market. However, not all of these partnerships are created equal. Some involve celebrities simply licensing their name and image, while others feature more substantial involvement in the actual product selection.
Manning's hands-on approach - actually going to Kentucky and tasting through barrel samples - represents the more involved end of that spectrum. Whether that makes a real difference in the final product is debatable, but it does create a more authentic story than partnerships where the celebrity never sets foot in a distillery.
Knob Creek itself is part of Suntory Global Spirits, a massive company that owns numerous premium brands including Jim Beam, Maker's Mark, and several Japanese whisky labels. The company employs roughly 6,000 people across nearly 30 countries. Being part of such a large organization provides resources for marketing campaigns like the Manning partnership while theoretically maintaining quality control through established distilling practices.
What This Means for Bourbon Drinkers
For someone looking to try something different, this release offers an opportunity to experience bourbon at a higher proof point than typical retail bottles. The cask strength format provides a more concentrated flavor profile, though it also requires a different approach to drinking. Sipping it neat demands patience and probably smaller pours than standard bourbon. Adding water becomes an option rather than heresy, and cocktails made with it will be noticeably stronger.
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The Manning connection adds a storytelling element that some drinkers appreciate. Knowing that a recognizable figure personally selected this barrel creates a narrative beyond just the liquid in the bottle. Others might prefer to focus solely on the bourbon itself, judging it purely on its flavor profile and quality.
At around $70, this sits at a price point where buyers expect something special. It's not an everyday pour for most people, but it's also not priced so high that opening the bottle feels like a major financial decision. The limited nature means it could be worth grabbing for those interested, as restocking seems unlikely once it sells through.
The timing - releasing during the peak of football season - makes sense for the target audience. Whether hosting a playoff party, watching the big game with friends, or just marking a significant sports moment, having something special to pour creates a sense of occasion. That's ultimately what premium spirits are about: marking moments that feel important enough to warrant something better than the usual.
