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Knob Creek 12 Year vs New Riff 8 Year
On paper Knob Creek 12 Year and New Riff 8 Year are near neighbours — both high-rye bourbons — so age (12 years vs. 8 years) is what actually decides it.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Knob Creek 12 Year | New Riff 8 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | 65% corn, 30% rye, 5% malted barley |
| Age | 12 years +4 yr | 8 years |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$55 – $70 ~$5 less | ~$65 – $70 |
- 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.
New Riff 8 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Knob Creek 12 Year New Riff 8 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
nuttiness 7/3 nuttiness: Knob Creek 12 Year 7 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 3 out of 10
spice 6/8 spice: Knob Creek 12 Year 6 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 8 out of 10
oak 9/7 oak: Knob Creek 12 Year 9 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 7 out of 10
fruit 3/5 fruit: Knob Creek 12 Year 3 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 5 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Knob Creek 12 Year 6 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 6 out of 10
heat 5/5 heat: Knob Creek 12 Year 5 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 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.
- New Riff 8 Year: The older, deeper version of New Riff's bonded bourbon. Same 30% rye recipe, but eight years add richer oak and darker sugar while keeping the spice front and center.
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 slightly lower price point.
- Go with New Riff 8 Year if you want an older, deeper take on New Riff's spicy high-rye recipe with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Knob Creek 12 Year); neat, old-fashioned (New Riff 8 Year).