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Knob Creek 12 Year vs Old Forester 86 Proof
On paper Knob Creek 12 Year and Old Forester 86 Proof are near neighbours — both high-rye bourbons — so price (~$55 – $70 vs. ~$20 – $26) is what actually decides it.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Knob Creek 12 Year | Old Forester 86 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) +14 proof | 86 proof (43% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$55 – $70 | ~$20 – $26 ~$40 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 86 Proof
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Knob Creek 12 Year Old Forester 86 Proof
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 9/4 oak: Knob Creek 12 Year 9 out of 10, Old Forester 86 Proof 4 out of 10
nuttiness 7/3 nuttiness: Knob Creek 12 Year 7 out of 10, Old Forester 86 Proof 3 out of 10
fruit 3/5 fruit: Knob Creek 12 Year 3 out of 10, Old Forester 86 Proof 5 out of 10
heat 5/3 heat: Knob Creek 12 Year 5 out of 10, Old Forester 86 Proof 3 out of 10
spice 6/5 spice: Knob Creek 12 Year 6 out of 10, Old Forester 86 Proof 5 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Knob Creek 12 Year 6 out of 10, Old Forester 86 Proof 6 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Oak is doing most of the differentiating 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 Forester 86 Proof: The entry bottling and the cheapest way to meet the Old Forester banana-and-caramel signature. Thin at 86 proof, but it costs very little and mixes well.
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 Old Forester 86 Proof if you want the Old Forester house character at the lowest possible price.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Knob Creek 12 Year); cocktails, highball, rocks (Old Forester 86 Proof).