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Knob Creek 9 Year vs W.L. Weller 12 Year
Comparing Knob Creek 9 Year and W.L. Weller 12 Year reveals a matchup between a traditional, spice-driven Kentucky staple and a traditional, wheated Kentucky staple.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Knob Creek 9 Year | W.L. Weller 12 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | 9 years | 12 years +3 yr |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) +10 proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$35 – $40 ~$88 less | ~$70 – $180 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Allocated |
- Knob Creek 9 Year and W.L. Weller 12 Year do not publish an official mash bill.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 9 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
W.L. Weller 12 Year
No notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Knob Creek 9 Year W.L. Weller 12 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 6/2 spice: Knob Creek 9 Year 6 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 2 out of 10
nuttiness 7/3 nuttiness: Knob Creek 9 Year 7 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 3 out of 10
sweetness 5/8 sweetness: Knob Creek 9 Year 5 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 8 out of 10
fruit 3/6 fruit: Knob Creek 9 Year 3 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 6 out of 10
heat 5/3 heat: Knob Creek 9 Year 5 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 3 out of 10
oak 8/7 oak: Knob Creek 9 Year 8 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 7 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Rye spice is the dividing line here.
- Knob Creek 9 Year: This classic Jim Beam offering leans heavily into traditional oak, rich caramel, vanilla, and the signature Beam peanut-funk nuttiness. At 100 proof it delivers a bolder, more structural wood-and-spice influence with a touch of citrus zest and mint on the finish.
- W.L. Weller 12 Year: Twelve years on a wheated mash at a modest 90 proof, which is the combination that made this bottle famous. Deep caramel and baked fruit with polished rather than aggressive oak — the closest widely-discussed analogue to the Pappy profile.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Knob Creek 9 Year if you want a classic peanut-and-oak-forward Kentucky bourbon with an older age statement at a significantly lower price point.
- Go with W.L. Weller 12 Year if you want age and elegance on a wheated mash, and you are willing to chase it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Knob Creek 9 Year); neat (W.L. Weller 12 Year).