Compare
Jim Beam Black vs Knob Creek 12 Year
Jim Beam Black and Knob Creek 12 Year are cut from similar cloth: two takes on high-rye bourbons, where the real difference is price (~$22 – $28 vs. ~$55 – $70).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Jim Beam Black | Knob Creek 12 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | 7 years | 12 years +5 yr |
| Proof | 86 proof (43% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +14 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$22 – $28 ~$38 less | ~$55 – $70 |
- Jim Beam Black and Knob Creek 12 Year do not publish an official mash bill.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
Jim Beam Black
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Knob Creek 12 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Jim Beam Black Knob Creek 12 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 6/9 oak: Jim Beam Black 6 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 9 out of 10
spice 4/6 spice: Jim Beam Black 4 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 6 out of 10
heat 3/5 heat: Jim Beam Black 3 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 5 out of 10
nuttiness 6/7 nuttiness: Jim Beam Black 6 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 7 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Jim Beam Black 6 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 6 out of 10
fruit 3/3 fruit: Jim Beam Black 3 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Barrel influence is the main separator.
- Jim Beam Black: The extra-aged version of the white label and a considerable step up for a few dollars more. Softer and rounder than Knob Creek with the same family peanut note, at a proof that keeps everything gentle.
- 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 Jim Beam Black if you want the Beam house character at its most affordable and easy-going.
- 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 neat, rocks, cocktails (Jim Beam Black); neat, rocks (Knob Creek 12 Year).