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Knob Creek 12 Year vs Journeyman Featherbone Bourbon
Comparing Knob Creek 12 Year and Journeyman Featherbone Bourbon reveals a matchup between a traditional, spice-driven Kentucky staple and a modern, wheated craft expression.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Knob Creek 12 Year | Journeyman Featherbone Bourbon |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | 70% corn, 5% rye, 25% wheat |
| Age | 12 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) +10 proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$55 – $70 | ~$45 – $55 ~$13 less |
- Knob Creek 12 Year does 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.
Journeyman Featherbone Bourbon
Didn't care for this one.
Flavor Profile
Knob Creek 12 Year Journeyman Featherbone Bourbon
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 9/4 oak: Knob Creek 12 Year 9 out of 10, Journeyman Featherbone Bourbon 4 out of 10
nuttiness 7/2 nuttiness: Knob Creek 12 Year 7 out of 10, Journeyman Featherbone Bourbon 2 out of 10
spice 6/4 spice: Knob Creek 12 Year 6 out of 10, Journeyman Featherbone Bourbon 4 out of 10
fruit 3/4 fruit: Knob Creek 12 Year 3 out of 10, Journeyman Featherbone Bourbon 4 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Knob Creek 12 Year 6 out of 10, Journeyman Featherbone Bourbon 6 out of 10
heat 5/5 heat: Knob Creek 12 Year 5 out of 10, Journeyman Featherbone Bourbon 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.
- Journeyman Featherbone Bourbon: An organic, wheat-heavy bourbon from a Michigan craft distillery. It stays round and caramel sweet on the palate with a peppery edge, while the nose is quiet and still a little young.
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 Journeyman Featherbone Bourbon if you want an organic, Midwest craft wheater with a round, caramel-forward body at a lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Knob Creek 12 Year); rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Journeyman Featherbone Bourbon).