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Knob Creek 12 Year vs Yellowstone Select
Comparing Knob Creek 12 Year and Yellowstone Select reveals a matchup between a traditional, spice-driven Kentucky staple and a blender-built, even-keeled bottling.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Knob Creek 12 Year | Yellowstone Select |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | 12 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) +7 proof | 93 proof (46.5% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$55 – $70 | ~$40 – $50 ~$18 less |
- Knob Creek 12 Year and Yellowstone Select do not publish an official mash bill.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.
Yellowstone Select
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Knob Creek 12 Year Yellowstone Select
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
nuttiness 7/2 nuttiness: Knob Creek 12 Year 7 out of 10, Yellowstone Select 2 out of 10
oak 9/5 oak: Knob Creek 12 Year 9 out of 10, Yellowstone Select 5 out of 10
spice 6/4 spice: Knob Creek 12 Year 6 out of 10, Yellowstone Select 4 out of 10
fruit 3/5 fruit: Knob Creek 12 Year 3 out of 10, Yellowstone Select 5 out of 10
heat 5/3 heat: Knob Creek 12 Year 5 out of 10, Yellowstone Select 3 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Knob Creek 12 Year 6 out of 10, Yellowstone Select 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.
- Yellowstone Select: A revived historic brand from Limestone Branch. Light and creamy, with toasted oak, vanilla and peach and a short, peppery finish. Part of the proceeds support Yellowstone National Park.
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 Yellowstone Select if you want a light, creamy everyday sipper with a historic name at a lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Knob Creek 12 Year); rocks, highball, old-fashioned (Yellowstone Select).