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Evan Williams Black Label vs Knob Creek 12 Year
Comparing Evan Williams Black Label 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 | Evan Williams Black Label | 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 | 86 proof (43% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +14 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$14 – $18 ~$47 less | ~$55 – $70 |
- Knob Creek 12 Year 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
Evan Williams Black Label
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Knob Creek 12 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Evan Williams Black Label Knob Creek 12 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 5/9 oak: Evan Williams Black Label 5 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 9 out of 10
nuttiness 4/7 nuttiness: Evan Williams Black Label 4 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 7 out of 10
spice 4/6 spice: Evan Williams Black Label 4 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 6 out of 10
heat 3/5 heat: Evan Williams Black Label 3 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 5 out of 10
fruit 4/3 fruit: Evan Williams Black Label 4 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 3 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Evan Williams Black Label 6 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 6 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Oak is doing most of the differentiating here.
- Evan Williams Black Label: The everyday black label, and a perfectly competent well bourbon. Softer and sweeter than the bonded version, with less to say but nothing objectionable.
- 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 Evan Williams Black Label if you want a dependable, inexpensive mixing bourbon and nothing more complicated than that at a significantly 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 more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed cocktails, highball, rocks (Evan Williams Black Label); neat, rocks (Knob Creek 12 Year).