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Bulleit Bourbon 10 Year vs Knob Creek 12 Year
Comparing Bulleit Bourbon 10 Year and Knob Creek 12 Year is a closer contest than it looks — both are high-rye bourbons, separated mainly by proof (91.2 vs. 100).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Bulleit Bourbon 10 Year | Knob Creek 12 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 68% corn, 28% rye, 4% malted barley | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | 10 years | 12 years +2 yr |
| Proof | 91.2 proof (45.6% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +9 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$45 – $55 ~$13 less | ~$55 – $70 |
- Bulleit Bourbon 10 Year and Knob Creek 12 Year do not publish an official mash bill.
- US shelf prices as of 2026-10; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Bulleit Bourbon 10 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Knob Creek 12 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Bulleit Bourbon 10 Year Knob Creek 12 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
nuttiness 2/7 nuttiness: Bulleit Bourbon 10 Year 2 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 7 out of 10
fruit 5/3 fruit: Bulleit Bourbon 10 Year 5 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 3 out of 10
sweetness 5/6 sweetness: Bulleit Bourbon 10 Year 5 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 6 out of 10
spice 7/6 spice: Bulleit Bourbon 10 Year 7 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 6 out of 10
oak 8/9 oak: Bulleit Bourbon 10 Year 8 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 9 out of 10
heat 4/5 heat: Bulleit Bourbon 10 Year 4 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The house grain character is what splits these.
- Bulleit Bourbon 10 Year: The older version of Bulleit's high-rye bourbon. Ten years add a lot of oak and leather to the usual rye spice, and the finish turns dry and woody.
- 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 Bulleit Bourbon 10 Year if you want an oak-forward, ten-year high-rye bourbon at a gentle proof at a lower price point.
- 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 slightly more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Bulleit Bourbon 10 Year); neat, rocks (Knob Creek 12 Year).