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Knob Creek 12 Year vs Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond
Put Knob Creek 12 Year next to Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond and you have a classic, high-rye stalwart set against a classic, high-wheat stalwart.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Knob Creek 12 Year | Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | 68% corn, 20% wheat, 12% malted barley |
| Age | 12 years +3 yr | 9 years |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$55 – $70 ~$83 less | ~$110 – $180 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Allocated |
- 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.
Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Knob Creek 12 Year Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 6/2 spice: Knob Creek 12 Year 6 out of 10, Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 2 out of 10
nuttiness 7/3 nuttiness: Knob Creek 12 Year 7 out of 10, Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 3 out of 10
fruit 3/6 fruit: Knob Creek 12 Year 3 out of 10, Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10
sweetness 6/8 sweetness: Knob Creek 12 Year 6 out of 10, Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 8 out of 10
oak 9/7 oak: Knob Creek 12 Year 9 out of 10, Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 7 out of 10
heat 5/4 heat: Knob Creek 12 Year 5 out of 10, Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Rye spice is the dividing line here.
- 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.
- Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond: The decanter series, released twice a year at varying ages, and Heaven Hill's most serious wheated statement. Age shows as polished oak and stewed fruit rather than tannin, but you pay handsomely for the bottle.
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 Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond if you want an aged, bonded wheater in a presentation bottle and the price is not the obstacle.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Knob Creek 12 Year); neat (Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond).