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Knob Creek 12 Year vs Woodford Reserve Double Oaked
On paper Knob Creek 12 Year and Woodford Reserve Double Oaked are near neighbours — both high-rye bourbons — so proof (100 vs. 90.4) is what actually decides it.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Knob Creek 12 Year | Woodford Reserve Double Oaked |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Age | 12 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) +10 proof | 90.4 proof (45.2% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$55 – $70 | ~$50 – $62 ~$7 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.
Woodford Reserve Double Oaked
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Knob Creek 12 Year Woodford Reserve Double Oaked
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
nuttiness 7/3 nuttiness: Knob Creek 12 Year 7 out of 10, Woodford Reserve Double Oaked 3 out of 10
sweetness 6/8 sweetness: Knob Creek 12 Year 6 out of 10, Woodford Reserve Double Oaked 8 out of 10
fruit 3/5 fruit: Knob Creek 12 Year 3 out of 10, Woodford Reserve Double Oaked 5 out of 10
spice 6/5 spice: Knob Creek 12 Year 6 out of 10, Woodford Reserve Double Oaked 5 out of 10
heat 5/4 heat: Knob Creek 12 Year 5 out of 10, Woodford Reserve Double Oaked 4 out of 10
oak 9/9 oak: Knob Creek 12 Year 9 out of 10, Woodford Reserve Double Oaked 9 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.
- Woodford Reserve Double Oaked: A second barrel, deeply toasted, and the result is unashamedly dessert-like. Maple and caramelised sugar with heavy wood — polarising if you want restraint, excellent if you want sweetness.
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 slightly more proof behind it.
- Go with Woodford Reserve Double Oaked if you want an overtly sweet, heavily oaked, dessert-leaning bourbon at a slightly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Knob Creek 12 Year); neat, rocks (Woodford Reserve Double Oaked).