Compare
Knob Creek 12 Year vs Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat
Knob Creek 12 Year and Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, rye-forward classic versus a new-wave, wheat-forward craft style.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Knob Creek 12 Year | Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | 53% corn, 39% wheat, 8% malted barley |
| Age | 12 years +6 yr | 6 years |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 106 proof (53% ABV) +6 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$55 – $70 | ~$50 – $55 ~$10 less |
- Knob Creek 12 Year does 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
Knob Creek 12 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Knob Creek 12 Year Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 3/8 fruit: Knob Creek 12 Year 3 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat 8 out of 10
nuttiness 7/2 nuttiness: Knob Creek 12 Year 7 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat 2 out of 10
oak 9/5 oak: Knob Creek 12 Year 9 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat 5 out of 10
spice 6/3 spice: Knob Creek 12 Year 6 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat 3 out of 10
sweetness 6/7 sweetness: Knob Creek 12 Year 6 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat 7 out of 10
heat 5/5 heat: Knob Creek 12 Year 5 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Fruit character is what sets these apart.
- 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.
- Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat: Because wheat makes up a massive 39% of the mash bill, this pour trades the aggressive spice of rye for a softer, oily mouthfeel. Expect bright fruit notes like ripe apricot and lemon on the nose, transitioning to pastry dough, light oak, and a creamy creme brulee sweetness balanced by a mild peppery backbone.
Which One Should You Choose?
- 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 an older age statement.
- Go with Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat if you want a softer, fruit-forward, contemporary profile with a richer, oily texture and lower emphasis on traditional oak at a slightly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Knob Creek 12 Year); neat, rocks (Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat).