Compare
Knob Creek 12 Year vs Copper & Kings Butchertown Bourbon
Comparing Knob Creek 12 Year and Copper & Kings Butchertown Bourbon reveals a matchup between a traditional, spice-driven Kentucky staple and a blender-built, even-keeled bottling.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Knob Creek 12 Year | Copper & Kings Butchertown Bourbon |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | 12 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 111 proof (55.5% ABV) +11 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$55 – $70 | ~$40 – $70 ~$8 less |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Limited |
- Knob Creek 12 Year and Copper & Kings Butchertown Bourbon do not publish an official mash bill.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
Knob Creek 12 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Copper & Kings Butchertown Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Knob Creek 12 Year Copper & Kings Butchertown Bourbon
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 3/8 fruit: Knob Creek 12 Year 3 out of 10, Copper & Kings Butchertown Bourbon 8 out of 10
nuttiness 7/3 nuttiness: Knob Creek 12 Year 7 out of 10, Copper & Kings Butchertown Bourbon 3 out of 10
oak 9/6 oak: Knob Creek 12 Year 9 out of 10, Copper & Kings Butchertown Bourbon 6 out of 10
sweetness 6/7 sweetness: Knob Creek 12 Year 6 out of 10, Copper & Kings Butchertown Bourbon 7 out of 10
heat 5/6 heat: Knob Creek 12 Year 5 out of 10, Copper & Kings Butchertown Bourbon 6 out of 10
spice 6/6 spice: Knob Creek 12 Year 6 out of 10, Copper & Kings Butchertown Bourbon 6 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.
- Copper & Kings Butchertown Bourbon: Kentucky bourbon finished in the Louisville brandy maker's apple brandy barrels. The finish reads like caramel apple pie: baked apple and cinnamon over a sturdy oak base.
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 without hunting for it.
- Go with Copper & Kings Butchertown Bourbon if you want an apple-brandy-finished bourbon that tastes like caramel apple pie at a slightly lower price point and with more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Knob Creek 12 Year); neat, old-fashioned (Copper & Kings Butchertown Bourbon).