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Knob Creek 12 Year vs Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel
On paper Knob Creek 12 Year and Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel are near neighbours — both high-rye bourbons — so proof (100 vs. 110) is what actually decides it.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Knob Creek 12 Year | Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 110 proof (55% ABV) +10 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$55 – $70 | ~$55 – $70 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Limited |
- 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 Single Barrel
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Knob Creek 12 Year Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
nuttiness 7/3 nuttiness: Knob Creek 12 Year 7 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 3 out of 10
spice 6/8 spice: Knob Creek 12 Year 6 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 8 out of 10
heat 5/7 heat: Knob Creek 12 Year 5 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 7 out of 10
oak 9/8 oak: Knob Creek 12 Year 9 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 8 out of 10
fruit 3/4 fruit: Knob Creek 12 Year 3 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 4 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Knob Creek 12 Year 6 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 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 Single Barrel: Non-chill-filtered single barrels at 110 proof, and the format that store picks have made a cult of. Concentrated Wild Turkey character with a texture the standard bottlings do not have.
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 without hunting for it.
- Go with Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel if you want concentrated Wild Turkey character with single-barrel variation and real texture with more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Knob Creek 12 Year); neat, old-fashioned (Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel).