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Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve vs E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch
Comparing Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve and E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch reveals a matchup between a traditional, spice-driven Kentucky staple and a traditional, even-keeled Kentucky staple.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve | E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | 9 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 120 proof (60% ABV) +20 proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$45 – $55 ~$18 less | ~$45 – $90 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Allocated |
- Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve and E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch do not publish an official mash bill.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.
E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 8/5 heat: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 8 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch 5 out of 10
nuttiness 7/4 nuttiness: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 7 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch 4 out of 10
spice 7/5 spice: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 7 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch 5 out of 10
fruit 3/5 fruit: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 3 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch 5 out of 10
oak 8/7 oak: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 8 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch 7 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 6 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch 6 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
These two land very differently on the palate for heat.
- 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.
- E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch: Bottled-in-bond from the same low-rye Buffalo Trace recipe, and the extra 10 proof over standard BT gives it noticeably more grip. Butterscotch and tobacco with a long, drying finish that outlasts most bottles near its shelf price.
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 E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch if you want the Buffalo Trace house profile with real structure and a bonded 100-proof backbone.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch).