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Bulleit Bourbon vs Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve
Bulleit Bourbon and Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: a sourced, rye-forward blend versus an old-guard, rye-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Bulleit Bourbon | Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | No age statement | 9 years |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 120 proof (60% ABV) +30 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$25 – $32 ~$22 less | ~$45 – $55 |
- Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve does 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
Bulleit Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Bulleit Bourbon Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 4/8 heat: Bulleit Bourbon 4 out of 10, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 8 out of 10
nuttiness 3/7 nuttiness: Bulleit Bourbon 3 out of 10, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 7 out of 10
oak 5/8 oak: Bulleit Bourbon 5 out of 10, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 8 out of 10
fruit 5/3 fruit: Bulleit Bourbon 5 out of 10, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 3 out of 10
sweetness 5/6 sweetness: Bulleit Bourbon 5 out of 10, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 6 out of 10
spice 7/7 spice: Bulleit Bourbon 7 out of 10, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 7 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Proof and heat dominate the difference.
- Bulleit Bourbon: The bottle that put high-rye bourbon in every cocktail bar in the country. Peppery and dry with the familiar MGP dill note, and it earns its place behind the bar more than in a glass on its own.
- 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 Bulleit Bourbon if you want a dry, peppery, high-rye bourbon built for cocktails and available absolutely everywhere at a lower price point.
- 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 old-fashioned, cocktails, highball (Bulleit Bourbon); neat, old-fashioned (Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve).