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Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon vs Knob Creek 12 Year
Comparing Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon and Knob Creek 12 Year reveals a matchup between a sourced, even-keeled blend and a traditional, spice-driven Kentucky staple.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon | 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 | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$85 – $100 | ~$55 – $70 ~$30 less |
- Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon and Knob Creek 12 Year do not publish an official mash bill.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
Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Knob Creek 12 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon Knob Creek 12 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 8/3 fruit: Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 8 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 3 out of 10
oak 6/9 oak: Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 6 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 9 out of 10
sweetness 8/6 sweetness: Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 8 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 6 out of 10
nuttiness 5/7 nuttiness: Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 5 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 7 out of 10
spice 5/6 spice: Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 5 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 6 out of 10
heat 5/5 heat: Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 5 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Fruit character is what sets these apart.
- Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon: Finished in Oloroso sherry, Pedro Ximenez sherry and Cognac casks. The casks layer dried fruit, orange and dark chocolate over the bourbon and leave a long, clove-spiced finish.
- 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 Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon if you want a sherry-and-Cognac-finished bourbon full of dried fruit and dark chocolate.
- 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 (Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon); neat, rocks (Knob Creek 12 Year).