Compare
Jefferson's Reserve Very Old vs Knob Creek 12 Year
Jefferson's Reserve Very Old 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 Reserve Very Old | 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 | 90.2 proof (45.1% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +10 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$55 – $65 | ~$55 – $70 |
- Jefferson's Reserve Very Old and Knob Creek 12 Year do not publish an official mash bill.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 Reserve Very Old
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Knob Creek 12 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Jefferson's Reserve Very Old Knob Creek 12 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
nuttiness 3/7 nuttiness: Jefferson's Reserve Very Old 3 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 7 out of 10
fruit 6/3 fruit: Jefferson's Reserve Very Old 6 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 3 out of 10
oak 7/9 oak: Jefferson's Reserve Very Old 7 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 9 out of 10
spice 5/6 spice: Jefferson's Reserve Very Old 5 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 6 out of 10
heat 4/5 heat: Jefferson's Reserve Very Old 4 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 5 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Jefferson's Reserve Very Old 6 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 6 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Nutty, grain-driven character is the divider.
- Jefferson's Reserve Very Old: The older, drier sibling of Jefferson's Very Small Batch. Buttery toffee and dried fruit sit on a firm, slightly smoky oak backbone, and the finish turns peppery and long.
- 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 Reserve Very Old if you want a mature, oak-driven blend with dried fruit and a dry, peppery finish at an easy proof.
- 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 slightly more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Jefferson's Reserve Very Old); neat, rocks (Knob Creek 12 Year).