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Knob Creek 12 Year vs Old Forester 100 Proof
Knob Creek 12 Year and Old Forester 100 Proof are cut from similar cloth: two takes on high-rye bourbons, where the real difference is price (~$55 – $70 vs. ~$26 – $32).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Knob Creek 12 Year | Old Forester 100 Proof |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Age | 12 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$55 – $70 | ~$26 – $32 ~$34 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.
Old Forester 100 Proof
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Knob Creek 12 Year Old Forester 100 Proof
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
nuttiness 7/3 nuttiness: Knob Creek 12 Year 7 out of 10, Old Forester 100 Proof 3 out of 10
oak 9/6 oak: Knob Creek 12 Year 9 out of 10, Old Forester 100 Proof 6 out of 10
fruit 3/5 fruit: Knob Creek 12 Year 3 out of 10, Old Forester 100 Proof 5 out of 10
sweetness 6/7 sweetness: Knob Creek 12 Year 6 out of 10, Old Forester 100 Proof 7 out of 10
spice 6/6 spice: Knob Creek 12 Year 6 out of 10, Old Forester 100 Proof 6 out of 10
heat 5/5 heat: Knob Creek 12 Year 5 out of 10, Old Forester 100 Proof 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Nutty, grain-driven character is the divider.
- 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 Forester 100 Proof: The bottle most people should buy from this range: the same recipe as the 86 with enough proof to actually taste it. One of the strongest arguments on the shelf for spending six dollars more.
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 Old Forester 100 Proof if you want the best value in the Old Forester range and a superb old-fashioned base.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Knob Creek 12 Year); neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Old Forester 100 Proof).