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Jefferson's Ocean Aged at Sea vs Knob Creek 12 Year
Put Jefferson's Ocean Aged at Sea next to Knob Creek 12 Year and you have a sourced, corn-forward blend set against a classic, high-rye stalwart.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Jefferson's Ocean Aged at Sea | 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 | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +10 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$70 – $85 | ~$55 – $70 ~$15 less |
- Jefferson's Ocean Aged at Sea and Knob Creek 12 Year do not publish an official mash bill.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
Jefferson's Ocean Aged at Sea
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Knob Creek 12 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Jefferson's Ocean Aged at Sea Knob Creek 12 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
nuttiness 3/7 nuttiness: Jefferson's Ocean Aged at Sea 3 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 7 out of 10
oak 6/9 oak: Jefferson's Ocean Aged at Sea 6 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 9 out of 10
spice 4/6 spice: Jefferson's Ocean Aged at Sea 4 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 6 out of 10
fruit 5/3 fruit: Jefferson's Ocean Aged at Sea 5 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 3 out of 10
heat 3/5 heat: Jefferson's Ocean Aged at Sea 3 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 5 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Jefferson's Ocean Aged at Sea 6 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 6 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Nutty, grain-driven character is the divider.
- Jefferson's Ocean Aged at Sea: Bourbon that spends months rocking in a ship's hold. Each voyage tastes a little different, but expect caramel and dark sugar with a savory, faintly salty edge from the trip.
- 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 Ocean Aged at Sea if you want a conversation-piece bourbon with a savory, slightly briny twist from aging at sea.
- 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 lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Jefferson's Ocean Aged at Sea); neat, rocks (Knob Creek 12 Year).