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Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve vs Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series
Put Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve next to Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series and you have a classic, high-rye stalwart set against a contemporary, corn-forward craft build.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve | Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | 9 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 120 proof (60% ABV) +21 proof | 98.9 proof (49.5% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$45 – $55 ~$13 less | ~$55 – $70 |
- Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve and Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series do not publish an official mash bill.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 Single Barrel Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
nuttiness 7/3 nuttiness: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 7 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series 3 out of 10
fruit 3/6 fruit: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 3 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series 6 out of 10
heat 8/5 heat: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 8 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series 5 out of 10
spice 7/5 spice: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 7 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series 5 out of 10
oak 8/6 oak: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 8 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series 6 out of 10
sweetness 6/7 sweetness: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 6 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series 7 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Nutty, grain-driven character is the divider.
- Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve: The same nine-year Knob Creek juice bottled from a single barrel at 120 proof, and the extra strength suits it. Everything the standard bottling does, turned up — with the barrel-to-barrel variation that comes with the format.
- Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series: A blend of Bardstown's own young distillate with older sourced Kentucky whiskey, which is exactly what the name describes. Polished and fruit-leaning, and a clear demonstration that the blending is the skill on show.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve if you want the Beam profile at serious proof for well under what most barrel-strength bourbons cost.
- Go with Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series if you want a well-built modern blend that shows what careful blending does rather than what age alone does.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve); neat, rocks (Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series).