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Knob Creek 12 Year vs Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon
Put Knob Creek 12 Year next to Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon and you have a classic, high-rye stalwart set against a blender-built, high-wheat bottling.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Knob Creek 12 Year | Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | 72% corn, 18% wheat, 10% malted barley |
| Age | 12 years +7 yr | 5 years |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$55 – $70 | ~$49 – $55 ~$11 less |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Limited |
- Knob Creek 12 Year and Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon do not publish an official mash bill.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.
Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Knob Creek 12 Year Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 9/6 oak: Knob Creek 12 Year 9 out of 10, Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon 6 out of 10
nuttiness 7/5 nuttiness: Knob Creek 12 Year 7 out of 10, Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon 5 out of 10
sweetness 6/7 sweetness: Knob Creek 12 Year 6 out of 10, Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon 7 out of 10
spice 6/5 spice: Knob Creek 12 Year 6 out of 10, Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon 5 out of 10
fruit 3/3 fruit: Knob Creek 12 Year 3 out of 10, Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon 3 out of 10
heat 5/5 heat: Knob Creek 12 Year 5 out of 10, Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon 5 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.
- Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon: A Notre Dame-licensed wheater given a second, double-oaked barrel. Maple, honey butter and toasted nuts lead, with charred wood and pepper on a long, warm finish.
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 an older age statement.
- Go with Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon if you want a double-oaked wheater with maple, toasted nuts and charred wood at a slightly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Knob Creek 12 Year); neat, old-fashioned (Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon).