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Knob Creek 12 Year vs E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel
Comparing Knob Creek 12 Year and E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel reveals a matchup between a traditional, spice-driven Kentucky staple and a traditional, even-keeled Kentucky staple.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Knob Creek 12 Year | E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | 12 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$55 – $70 ~$43 less | ~$70 – $140 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Allocated |
- Knob Creek 12 Year and E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel do not publish an official mash bill.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.
E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Knob Creek 12 Year E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
nuttiness 7/4 nuttiness: Knob Creek 12 Year 7 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel 4 out of 10
fruit 3/5 fruit: Knob Creek 12 Year 3 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel 5 out of 10
spice 6/5 spice: Knob Creek 12 Year 6 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel 5 out of 10
oak 9/8 oak: Knob Creek 12 Year 9 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel 8 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Knob Creek 12 Year 6 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel 6 out of 10
heat 5/5 heat: Knob Creek 12 Year 5 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel 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.
- E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel: Single barrels from the warehouse Colonel Taylor built, bonded at 100 proof. More oak and more concentration than the small batch, and one of the most sought-after regular releases Buffalo Trace makes.
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 at a significantly lower price point.
- Go with E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel if you want the most concentrated bonded expression of the Buffalo Trace profile, and the hunt does not deter you.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Knob Creek 12 Year); neat (E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel).