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Four Roses Bourbon vs Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve
Four Roses Bourbon and Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, rye-forward classic versus an old-guard, rye-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Four Roses Bourbon | Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 20% rye, 5% malted barley | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 9 years |
| Proof | 80 proof (40% ABV) | 120 proof (60% ABV) +40 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$22 – $28 ~$25 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
Four Roses Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Four Roses Bourbon Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 2/8 heat: Four Roses Bourbon 2 out of 10, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 8 out of 10
oak 3/8 oak: Four Roses Bourbon 3 out of 10, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 8 out of 10
nuttiness 3/7 nuttiness: Four Roses Bourbon 3 out of 10, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 7 out of 10
fruit 6/3 fruit: Four Roses Bourbon 6 out of 10, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 3 out of 10
spice 5/7 spice: Four Roses Bourbon 5 out of 10, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 7 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Four Roses Bourbon 6 out of 10, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 6 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Proof and heat dominate the difference.
- Four Roses Bourbon: The yellow label entry point, blending all ten Four Roses recipes at a gentle 80 proof. Light and fruity to a fault, but the house floral character is already recognisable and it mixes beautifully.
- 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 Four Roses Bourbon if you want the Four Roses fruit-and-floral signature at its lightest and cheapest.
- 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 cocktails, highball, rocks (Four Roses Bourbon); neat, old-fashioned (Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve).