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Knob Creek 12 Year vs Russell’s Reserve 10 Year
Comparing Knob Creek 12 Year and Russell’s Reserve 10 Year is a closer contest than it looks — both are high-rye bourbons, separated mainly by proof (100 vs. 90).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Knob Creek 12 Year | Russell’s Reserve 10 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | 12 years +2 yr | 10 years |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) +10 proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$55 – $70 | ~$40 – $50 ~$18 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.
Russell’s Reserve 10 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Knob Creek 12 Year Russell’s Reserve 10 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
nuttiness 7/3 nuttiness: Knob Creek 12 Year 7 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 10 Year 3 out of 10
oak 9/8 oak: Knob Creek 12 Year 9 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 10 Year 8 out of 10
fruit 3/4 fruit: Knob Creek 12 Year 3 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 10 Year 4 out of 10
heat 5/4 heat: Knob Creek 12 Year 5 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 10 Year 4 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Knob Creek 12 Year 6 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 10 Year 6 out of 10
spice 6/6 spice: Knob Creek 12 Year 6 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 10 Year 6 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.
- Russell’s Reserve 10 Year: Ten years of Wild Turkey at a restrained 90 proof, which trades the 101's punch for polish. More oak and more composure, and one of the better age-stated bottles at its price.
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 Russell’s Reserve 10 Year if you want an age-stated, oak-forward Wild Turkey with the volume turned down at a lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Knob Creek 12 Year); neat, rocks (Russell’s Reserve 10 Year).