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Knob Creek 12 Year vs Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof
Knob Creek 12 Year and Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, rye-forward classic versus an undiluted barrel-strength pour.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Knob Creek 12 Year | Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | 12 years | 13 years +1 yr |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 123.8 proof (61.9% ABV) +24 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$55 – $70 ~$188 less | ~$200 – $300 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Limited |
- Knob Creek 12 Year and Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof do not publish an official mash bill.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.
Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Knob Creek 12 Year Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
nuttiness 7/3 nuttiness: Knob Creek 12 Year 7 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 3 out of 10
fruit 3/6 fruit: Knob Creek 12 Year 3 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 6 out of 10
heat 5/8 heat: Knob Creek 12 Year 5 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 8 out of 10
sweetness 6/8 sweetness: Knob Creek 12 Year 6 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 8 out of 10
oak 9/8 oak: Knob Creek 12 Year 9 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 8 out of 10
spice 6/6 spice: Knob Creek 12 Year 6 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 6 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The house grain character is what splits these.
- 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 13 Year Barrel Proof: Thirteen-year Wild Turkey at full barrel proof, uncut and unfiltered. Cola, molasses and fruit cobbler sit on deep, charred oak, and each release carries its own proof.
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 at a significantly lower price point.
- Go with Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof if you want an old, uncut Wild Turkey with cola, cobbler and serious oak with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Knob Creek 12 Year); neat (Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof).