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Jefferson’s Very Small Batch vs Knob Creek 12 Year
Jefferson’s Very Small Batch and Knob Creek 12 Year sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: a sourced, classically built blend versus an old-guard, rye-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Jefferson’s Very Small Batch | 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 | 82.3 proof (41.1% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +18 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$28 – $36 ~$31 less | ~$55 – $70 |
- Jefferson’s Very Small Batch and Knob Creek 12 Year do not publish an official mash bill.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
Jefferson’s Very Small Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Knob Creek 12 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Jefferson’s Very Small Batch Knob Creek 12 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 4/9 oak: Jefferson’s Very Small Batch 4 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 9 out of 10
nuttiness 3/7 nuttiness: Jefferson’s Very Small Batch 3 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 7 out of 10
heat 2/5 heat: Jefferson’s Very Small Batch 2 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 5 out of 10
spice 4/6 spice: Jefferson’s Very Small Batch 4 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 6 out of 10
fruit 5/3 fruit: Jefferson’s Very Small Batch 5 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 3 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Jefferson’s Very Small Batch 6 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 6 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Barrel influence is the main separator.
- Jefferson’s Very Small Batch: A blend of sourced barrels bottled at a very gentle 82.3 proof. Easy and inoffensive, but thin enough that it is hard to recommend over bonded bottles costing less.
- 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 Jefferson’s Very Small Batch if you want an especially soft, low-proof pour and gentleness matters more than intensity 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 rocks, cocktails, highball (Jefferson’s Very Small Batch); neat, rocks (Knob Creek 12 Year).