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Eagle Rare 12 Year vs Knob Creek 12 Year
Comparing Eagle Rare 12 Year 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 | Eagle Rare 12 Year | 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 | 12 years | 12 years |
| Proof | 95 proof (47.5% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +5 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$50 – $80 | ~$55 – $70 |
| Availability | Allocated | Widely available easier to find |
- Eagle Rare 12 Year and Knob Creek 12 Year do not publish an official mash bill.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
Eagle Rare 12 Year
Top 3, behind George T. Stagg and Jack Daniel's 14.
Knob Creek 12 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Eagle Rare 12 Year Knob Creek 12 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 6/3 fruit: Eagle Rare 12 Year 6 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 3 out of 10
nuttiness 4/7 nuttiness: Eagle Rare 12 Year 4 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 7 out of 10
oak 7/9 oak: Eagle Rare 12 Year 7 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 9 out of 10
sweetness 7/6 sweetness: Eagle Rare 12 Year 7 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 6 out of 10
spice 5/6 spice: Eagle Rare 12 Year 5 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 6 out of 10
heat 5/5 heat: Eagle Rare 12 Year 5 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The fruit-versus-grain contrast drives this one.
- Eagle Rare 12 Year: Two more years and five more proof points than Eagle Rare 10. Brown sugar and toffee lead, with a drier, more astringent oak 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 Eagle Rare 12 Year if you want an older, richer step up from Eagle Rare 10 with more brown sugar and oak.
- Go with Knob Creek 12 Year if you want the Beam house profile pushed as far into oak as it goes while staying balanced without hunting for it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Eagle Rare 12 Year); neat, rocks (Knob Creek 12 Year).