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Knob Creek 12 Year vs Johnny Drum Private Stock
Put Knob Creek 12 Year next to Johnny Drum Private Stock and you have a classic, high-rye stalwart set against a classic, corn-forward stalwart.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Knob Creek 12 Year | Johnny Drum Private Stock |
|---|---|---|
| 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) | 101 proof (50.5% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$55 – $70 | ~$35 – $45 ~$23 less |
- Knob Creek 12 Year and Johnny Drum Private Stock do not publish an official mash bill.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.
Johnny Drum Private Stock
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Knob Creek 12 Year Johnny Drum Private Stock
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 9/5 oak: Knob Creek 12 Year 9 out of 10, Johnny Drum Private Stock 5 out of 10
fruit 3/6 fruit: Knob Creek 12 Year 3 out of 10, Johnny Drum Private Stock 6 out of 10
nuttiness 7/4 nuttiness: Knob Creek 12 Year 7 out of 10, Johnny Drum Private Stock 4 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Knob Creek 12 Year 6 out of 10, Johnny Drum Private Stock 6 out of 10
spice 6/6 spice: Knob Creek 12 Year 6 out of 10, Johnny Drum Private Stock 6 out of 10
heat 5/5 heat: Knob Creek 12 Year 5 out of 10, Johnny Drum Private Stock 5 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.
- Johnny Drum Private Stock: An old-school Willett label at 101 proof. Oily and dessert-like, with baked apple, almond and custard, and rye-like mint and spice on the 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 Johnny Drum Private Stock if you want an oily, dessert-like 101-proof pour with old-school Willett character at a lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Knob Creek 12 Year); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Johnny Drum Private Stock).