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Knob Creek 12 Year vs Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year
Put Knob Creek 12 Year next to Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year and you have a classic, high-rye stalwart set against a full-proof, unfiltered heavyweight.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Knob Creek 12 Year | Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | 68% corn, 18% rye, 14% malted barley |
| Age | 12 years +8 yr | 4 years |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 125.2 proof (62.6% ABV) +25 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$55 – $70 ~$8 less | ~$65 – $75 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Limited |
- Knob Creek 12 Year and Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year do not publish an official mash bill.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.
Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Knob Creek 12 Year Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 9/4 oak: Knob Creek 12 Year 9 out of 10, Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year 4 out of 10
heat 5/9 heat: Knob Creek 12 Year 5 out of 10, Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year 9 out of 10
nuttiness 7/3 nuttiness: Knob Creek 12 Year 7 out of 10, Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year 3 out of 10
fruit 3/6 fruit: Knob Creek 12 Year 3 out of 10, Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year 6 out of 10
sweetness 6/7 sweetness: Knob Creek 12 Year 6 out of 10, Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year 7 out of 10
spice 6/6 spice: Knob Creek 12 Year 6 out of 10, Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year 6 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Oak is doing most of the differentiating here.
- 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.
- Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year: Willett's own young distillate at full barrel proof. It is loud and sweet, all caramel corn, pastry and citrus, with a lot of heat for a four-year bourbon. Proof varies by batch.
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 slightly lower price point.
- Go with Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year if you want a young, hot, barrel-proof pour that shows off Willett's own distillate with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Knob Creek 12 Year); neat (Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year).