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Buffalo Trace vs Knob Creek 12 Year
Comparing Buffalo Trace and Knob Creek 12 Year reveals a matchup between a traditional, even-keeled Kentucky staple and a traditional, spice-driven Kentucky staple.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Buffalo Trace | Knob Creek 12 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 12 years |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +10 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$28 – $35 ~$31 less | ~$55 – $70 |
| Availability | Limited | Widely available easier to find |
- Buffalo Trace and Knob Creek 12 Year do not publish an official mash bill.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
Buffalo Trace
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Knob Creek 12 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Buffalo Trace Knob Creek 12 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 6/9 oak: Buffalo Trace 6 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 9 out of 10
nuttiness 4/7 nuttiness: Buffalo Trace 4 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 7 out of 10
fruit 5/3 fruit: Buffalo Trace 5 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 3 out of 10
spice 5/6 spice: Buffalo Trace 5 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 6 out of 10
heat 4/5 heat: Buffalo Trace 4 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 5 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Buffalo Trace 6 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 6 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Oak is doing most of the differentiating here.
- Buffalo Trace: The reference-point Kentucky bourbon: balanced brown sugar and vanilla sweetness, a whisper of mint, and just enough oak and spice to keep it interesting. Nothing is loud, which is exactly the point at 90 proof.
- Knob Creek 12 Year: Three more years in the barrel than the standard Knob Creek, and the wood does all the talking. Deep oak and leather over the familiar Beam peanut note, drying toward genuinely tannic on the finish.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Buffalo Trace if you want the balanced, everyday Kentucky benchmark that does nothing wrong at a fair price.
- Go with Knob Creek 12 Year if you want the Beam house profile pushed as far into oak as it goes while staying balanced with more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Buffalo Trace); neat, rocks (Knob Creek 12 Year).