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Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve vs Copper & Kings Butchertown Bourbon
Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve and Copper & Kings Butchertown Bourbon sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, rye-forward classic versus a sourced, classically built blend.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve | Copper & Kings Butchertown Bourbon |
|---|---|---|
| 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) +9 proof | 111 proof (55.5% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$45 – $55 ~$5 less | ~$40 – $70 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Limited |
- Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve and Copper & Kings Butchertown Bourbon do not publish an official mash bill.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.
Copper & Kings Butchertown Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve Copper & Kings Butchertown Bourbon
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 3/8 fruit: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 3 out of 10, Copper & Kings Butchertown Bourbon 8 out of 10
nuttiness 7/3 nuttiness: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 7 out of 10, Copper & Kings Butchertown Bourbon 3 out of 10
oak 8/6 oak: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 8 out of 10, Copper & Kings Butchertown Bourbon 6 out of 10
heat 8/6 heat: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 8 out of 10, Copper & Kings Butchertown Bourbon 6 out of 10
sweetness 6/7 sweetness: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 6 out of 10, Copper & Kings Butchertown Bourbon 7 out of 10
spice 7/6 spice: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 7 out of 10, Copper & Kings Butchertown Bourbon 6 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The fruit-versus-grain contrast drives this one.
- 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.
- Copper & Kings Butchertown Bourbon: Kentucky bourbon finished in the Louisville brandy maker's apple brandy barrels. The finish reads like caramel apple pie: baked apple and cinnamon over a sturdy oak base.
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 without hunting for it.
- Go with Copper & Kings Butchertown Bourbon if you want an apple-brandy-finished bourbon that tastes like caramel apple pie.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve); neat, old-fashioned (Copper & Kings Butchertown Bourbon).