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Knob Creek 12 Year vs Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon
Comparing Knob Creek 12 Year and Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon reveals a matchup between a traditional, spice-driven Kentucky staple and a modern, wheated craft expression.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Knob Creek 12 Year | Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | 75% corn, 15% wheat, 10% malted barley |
| Age | 12 years +8 yr | 4 years |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) +13 proof | 87 proof (43.5% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$55 – $70 | ~$40 – $45 ~$20 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.
Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon
Didn't care for this one.
Flavor Profile
Knob Creek 12 Year Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 9/4 oak: Knob Creek 12 Year 9 out of 10, Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon 4 out of 10
spice 6/2 spice: Knob Creek 12 Year 6 out of 10, Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon 2 out of 10
nuttiness 7/3 nuttiness: Knob Creek 12 Year 7 out of 10, Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon 3 out of 10
heat 5/3 heat: Knob Creek 12 Year 5 out of 10, Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon 3 out of 10
fruit 3/4 fruit: Knob Creek 12 Year 3 out of 10, Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon 4 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Knob Creek 12 Year 6 out of 10, Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon 6 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Barrel influence is the main separator.
- 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.
- Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon: A farm-to-bottle wheater from northern Illinois. Soft red winter wheat keeps it gentle and bready, with caramel and vanilla up front and very little bite at 87 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 with more proof behind it.
- Go with Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon if you want a soft, easygoing wheated bourbon made start to finish on one Midwest farm at a lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Knob Creek 12 Year); rocks, highball, cocktails (Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon).