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Angel’s Envy vs Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve
Angel’s Envy and Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: a new-wave, classically built craft style versus an old-guard, rye-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Angel’s Envy | Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 9 years |
| Proof | 86.6 proof (43.3% ABV) | 120 proof (60% ABV) +33 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$45 – $55 | ~$45 – $55 |
- Angel’s Envy and Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve do not publish an official mash bill.
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Angel’s Envy
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Angel’s Envy Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 3/8 heat: Angel’s Envy 3 out of 10, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 8 out of 10
fruit 7/3 fruit: Angel’s Envy 7 out of 10, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 3 out of 10
nuttiness 3/7 nuttiness: Angel’s Envy 3 out of 10, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 7 out of 10
spice 4/7 spice: Angel’s Envy 4 out of 10, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 7 out of 10
oak 5/8 oak: Angel’s Envy 5 out of 10, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 8 out of 10
sweetness 8/6 sweetness: Angel’s Envy 8 out of 10, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 6 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Proof and heat dominate the difference.
- Angel’s Envy: Finished in port barrels, which pushes it well away from the traditional bourbon template toward berry and raisin sweetness. Divisive among purists and extremely popular with everyone else.
- Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve: The same nine-year Knob Creek juice bottled from a single barrel at 120 proof, and the extra strength suits it. Everything the standard bottling does, turned up — with the barrel-to-barrel variation that comes with the format.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Angel’s Envy if you want an overtly fruity, port-finished bourbon that breaks from the traditional profile on purpose.
- Go with Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve if you want the Beam profile at serious proof for well under what most barrel-strength bourbons cost.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Angel’s Envy); neat, old-fashioned (Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve).