Compare
Knob Creek 12 Year vs Jim Beam Black
Knob Creek 12 Year and Jim Beam Black are cut from similar cloth: two takes on high-rye bourbons, where the real difference is price (~$55 – $70 vs. ~$22 – $28).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Knob Creek 12 Year | Jim Beam Black |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | 12 years +5 yr | 7 years |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) +14 proof | 86 proof (43% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$55 – $70 | ~$22 – $28 ~$38 less |
- Knob Creek 12 Year and Jim Beam Black do not publish an official mash bill.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.
Jim Beam Black
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Knob Creek 12 Year Jim Beam Black
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 9/6 oak: Knob Creek 12 Year 9 out of 10, Jim Beam Black 6 out of 10
spice 6/4 spice: Knob Creek 12 Year 6 out of 10, Jim Beam Black 4 out of 10
heat 5/3 heat: Knob Creek 12 Year 5 out of 10, Jim Beam Black 3 out of 10
nuttiness 7/6 nuttiness: Knob Creek 12 Year 7 out of 10, Jim Beam Black 6 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Knob Creek 12 Year 6 out of 10, Jim Beam Black 6 out of 10
fruit 3/3 fruit: Knob Creek 12 Year 3 out of 10, Jim Beam Black 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Barrel influence is the main separator.
- 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.
- Jim Beam Black: The extra-aged version of the white label and a considerable step up for a few dollars more. Softer and rounder than Knob Creek with the same family peanut note, at a proof that keeps everything gentle.
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 more proof behind it.
- Go with Jim Beam Black if you want the Beam house character at its most affordable and easy-going.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Knob Creek 12 Year); neat, rocks, cocktails (Jim Beam Black).