Compare
Journeyman Featherbone Bourbon vs Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve
Comparing Journeyman Featherbone Bourbon and Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve reveals a matchup between a modern, wheated craft expression and a traditional, spice-driven Kentucky staple.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Journeyman Featherbone Bourbon | Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 70% corn, 5% rye, 25% wheat | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 9 years |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 120 proof (60% ABV) +30 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$45 – $55 | ~$45 – $55 |
- Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve does 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
Journeyman Featherbone Bourbon
Didn't care for this one.
Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Journeyman Featherbone Bourbon Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
nuttiness 2/7 nuttiness: Journeyman Featherbone Bourbon 2 out of 10, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 7 out of 10
oak 4/8 oak: Journeyman Featherbone Bourbon 4 out of 10, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 8 out of 10
spice 4/7 spice: Journeyman Featherbone Bourbon 4 out of 10, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 7 out of 10
heat 5/8 heat: Journeyman Featherbone Bourbon 5 out of 10, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 8 out of 10
fruit 4/3 fruit: Journeyman Featherbone Bourbon 4 out of 10, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 3 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Journeyman Featherbone Bourbon 6 out of 10, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 6 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The house grain character is what splits these.
- Journeyman Featherbone Bourbon: An organic, wheat-heavy bourbon from a Michigan craft distillery. It stays round and caramel sweet on the palate with a peppery edge, while the nose is quiet and still a little young.
- Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve: The same nine-year Knob Creek juice bottled from a single barrel at 120 proof, and the extra strength suits it. Everything the standard bottling does, turned up — with the barrel-to-barrel variation that comes with the format.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Journeyman Featherbone Bourbon if you want an organic, Midwest craft wheater with a round, caramel-forward body.
- Go with Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve if you want the Beam profile at serious proof for well under what most barrel-strength bourbons cost.
Best enjoyed rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Journeyman Featherbone Bourbon); neat, old-fashioned (Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve).