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Knob Creek 12 Year vs Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B
Comparing Knob Creek 12 Year and Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B reveals a matchup between a traditional, spice-driven Kentucky staple and a traditional, wheated Kentucky staple.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Knob Creek 12 Year | Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | 12 years | 12 years |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) +10 proof | 90.4 proof (45.2% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$55 – $70 ~$473 less | ~$170 – $900 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Allocated |
- Knob Creek 12 Year and Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B do not publish an official mash bill.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.
Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Knob Creek 12 Year Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
nuttiness 7/3 nuttiness: Knob Creek 12 Year 7 out of 10, Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B 3 out of 10
spice 6/3 spice: Knob Creek 12 Year 6 out of 10, Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B 3 out of 10
oak 9/6 oak: Knob Creek 12 Year 9 out of 10, Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B 6 out of 10
sweetness 6/8 sweetness: Knob Creek 12 Year 6 out of 10, Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B 8 out of 10
fruit 3/5 fruit: Knob Creek 12 Year 3 out of 10, Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B 5 out of 10
heat 5/3 heat: Knob Creek 12 Year 5 out of 10, Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B 3 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.
- Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B: Twelve-year wheated bourbon from the Van Winkle line. Soft and balanced, with butterscotch, toffee and caramel and a gentle, spiced 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 at a significantly lower price point.
- Go with Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B if you want a soft, balanced, 12-year wheater from the Van Winkle line.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Knob Creek 12 Year); neat (Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B).