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Knob Creek 12 Year vs David Nicholson Reserve
Comparing Knob Creek 12 Year and David Nicholson Reserve reveals a matchup between a traditional, spice-driven Kentucky staple and a sourced, even-keeled blend.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Knob Creek 12 Year | David Nicholson Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| 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) | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$55 – $70 | ~$30 – $40 ~$28 less |
- Knob Creek 12 Year and David Nicholson Reserve do not publish an official mash bill.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.
David Nicholson Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Knob Creek 12 Year David Nicholson Reserve
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
nuttiness 7/3 nuttiness: Knob Creek 12 Year 7 out of 10, David Nicholson Reserve 3 out of 10
oak 9/6 oak: Knob Creek 12 Year 9 out of 10, David Nicholson Reserve 6 out of 10
sweetness 6/5 sweetness: Knob Creek 12 Year 6 out of 10, David Nicholson Reserve 5 out of 10
spice 6/6 spice: Knob Creek 12 Year 6 out of 10, David Nicholson Reserve 6 out of 10
fruit 3/3 fruit: Knob Creek 12 Year 3 out of 10, David Nicholson Reserve 3 out of 10
heat 5/5 heat: Knob Creek 12 Year 5 out of 10, David Nicholson Reserve 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The house grain character is what splits these.
- 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.
- David Nicholson Reserve: The rye-recipe sibling to the 1843, with extra age. Toasty oak and rye spice give it more backbone, and the spice stays put through a long, warm finish.
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.
- Go with David Nicholson Reserve if you want a toasty, spicy, 100-proof value bourbon that stands up in cocktails.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Knob Creek 12 Year); old-fashioned, cocktails, rocks (David Nicholson Reserve).