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George T. Stagg vs Knob Creek 12 Year
Put George T. Stagg next to Knob Creek 12 Year and you have a full-proof, unfiltered heavyweight set against a classic, high-rye stalwart.
Key Specifications
| Feature | George T. Stagg | Knob Creek 12 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof | 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 | 142.8 proof (71.4% ABV) +43 proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$150 – $800 | ~$55 – $70 ~$413 less |
| Availability | Allocated | Widely available easier to find |
- George T. Stagg and Knob Creek 12 Year do not publish an official mash bill.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
George T. Stagg
Very complex, with the taste profile moving across the entire palate.
Knob Creek 12 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
George T. Stagg Knob Creek 12 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 10/5 heat: George T. Stagg 10 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/7 nuttiness: George T. Stagg 3 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 7 out of 10
fruit 6/3 fruit: George T. Stagg 6 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 3 out of 10
sweetness 7/6 sweetness: George T. Stagg 7 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 6 out of 10
spice 6/6 spice: George T. Stagg 6 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 6 out of 10
oak 9/9 oak: George T. Stagg 9 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 9 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
These two land very differently on the palate for heat.
- George T. Stagg: The Buffalo Trace Antique Collection's barrel-proof bourbon, around 15 years old. Root beer, dark caramel and charred oak at an enormous proof that changes each year.
- 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 George T. Stagg if you want the oldest, hottest, most concentrated Buffalo Trace bourbon you can find with significantly more proof behind it.
- Go with Knob Creek 12 Year if you want the Beam house profile pushed as far into oak as it goes while staying balanced at a significantly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat (George T. Stagg); neat, rocks (Knob Creek 12 Year).