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David Nicholson Reserve vs Knob Creek 12 Year
Comparing David Nicholson Reserve and Knob Creek 12 Year reveals a matchup between a blender-built, even-keeled bottling and a traditional, spice-driven Kentucky staple.
Key Specifications
| Feature | David Nicholson Reserve | Knob Creek 12 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 12 years |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$30 – $40 ~$28 less | ~$55 – $70 |
- David Nicholson Reserve and Knob Creek 12 Year do not publish an official mash bill.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
David Nicholson Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Knob Creek 12 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
David Nicholson Reserve Knob Creek 12 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
nuttiness 3/7 nuttiness: David Nicholson Reserve 3 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 7 out of 10
oak 6/9 oak: David Nicholson Reserve 6 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 9 out of 10
sweetness 5/6 sweetness: David Nicholson Reserve 5 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 6 out of 10
spice 6/6 spice: David Nicholson Reserve 6 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 6 out of 10
fruit 3/3 fruit: David Nicholson Reserve 3 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 3 out of 10
heat 5/5 heat: David Nicholson Reserve 5 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The house grain character is what splits these.
- David Nicholson Reserve: The rye-recipe sibling to the 1843, with extra age. Toasty oak and rye spice give it more backbone, and the spice stays put through a long, warm finish.
- 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 David Nicholson Reserve if you want a toasty, spicy, 100-proof value bourbon that stands up in cocktails.
- Go with Knob Creek 12 Year if you want the Beam house profile pushed as far into oak as it goes while staying balanced.
Best enjoyed old-fashioned, cocktails, rocks (David Nicholson Reserve); neat, rocks (Knob Creek 12 Year).