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Knob Creek 12 Year vs Stellum Bourbon
Comparing Knob Creek 12 Year and Stellum Bourbon reveals a matchup between a traditional, spice-driven Kentucky staple and an uncut, cask-strength bruiser.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Knob Creek 12 Year | Stellum Bourbon |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | 12 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 115 proof (57.5% ABV) +15 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$55 – $70 | ~$45 – $55 ~$13 less |
- Knob Creek 12 Year and Stellum Bourbon do not publish an official mash bill.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.
Stellum Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Knob Creek 12 Year Stellum Bourbon
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
nuttiness 7/3 nuttiness: Knob Creek 12 Year 7 out of 10, Stellum Bourbon 3 out of 10
oak 9/6 oak: Knob Creek 12 Year 9 out of 10, Stellum Bourbon 6 out of 10
heat 5/7 heat: Knob Creek 12 Year 5 out of 10, Stellum Bourbon 7 out of 10
spice 6/7 spice: Knob Creek 12 Year 6 out of 10, Stellum Bourbon 7 out of 10
fruit 3/4 fruit: Knob Creek 12 Year 3 out of 10, Stellum Bourbon 4 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Knob Creek 12 Year 6 out of 10, Stellum Bourbon 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.
- Stellum Bourbon: Barrell's lower-priced, cask-strength line. It drinks gentler than its proof, with vanilla and caramel on top of cinnamon, clove and a long, spicy 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.
- Go with Stellum Bourbon if you want a cask-strength, multi-state blend that drinks easier than its proof at a lower price point and with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Knob Creek 12 Year); neat, old-fashioned (Stellum Bourbon).