Compare
Knob Creek 12 Year vs Penelope Architect
Comparing Knob Creek 12 Year and Penelope Architect reveals a matchup between a traditional, spice-driven Kentucky staple and a blender-built, even-keeled bottling.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Knob Creek 12 Year | Penelope Architect |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Four-Grain Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | 75% corn, 7% rye, 15% wheat, 3% malted barley |
| Age | 12 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 104 proof (52% ABV) +4 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$55 – $70 | ~$60 – $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.
Penelope Architect
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Knob Creek 12 Year Penelope Architect
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 9/5 oak: Knob Creek 12 Year 9 out of 10, Penelope Architect 5 out of 10
nuttiness 7/3 nuttiness: Knob Creek 12 Year 7 out of 10, Penelope Architect 3 out of 10
fruit 3/6 fruit: Knob Creek 12 Year 3 out of 10, Penelope Architect 6 out of 10
sweetness 6/7 sweetness: Knob Creek 12 Year 6 out of 10, Penelope Architect 7 out of 10
heat 5/6 heat: Knob Creek 12 Year 5 out of 10, Penelope Architect 6 out of 10
spice 6/6 spice: Knob Creek 12 Year 6 out of 10, Penelope Architect 6 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.
- Penelope Architect: Penelope's four-grain blend finished with French oak staves chosen for their tannin. The French oak adds berry, cherry and warm spice to a vanilla-heavy base.
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 Penelope Architect if you want a four-grain bourbon with a French oak finish that adds berries and warm spice.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Knob Creek 12 Year); neat, old-fashioned (Penelope Architect).