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Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve vs Elijah Craig Barrel Proof
Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve and Elijah Craig Barrel Proof sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, rye-forward classic versus an undiluted barrel-strength pour.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve | Elijah Craig Barrel Proof |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | 9 years | 12 years +3 yr |
| Proof | 120 proof (60% ABV) | 124 proof (62% ABV) +4 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$45 – $55 ~$35 less | ~$70 – $100 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Limited |
- Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve does 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.
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve Elijah Craig Barrel Proof
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
nuttiness 7/4 nuttiness: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 7 out of 10, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 4 out of 10
sweetness 6/7 sweetness: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 6 out of 10, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 7 out of 10
oak 8/9 oak: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 8 out of 10, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 9 out of 10
fruit 3/4 fruit: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 3 out of 10, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 4 out of 10
heat 8/9 heat: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 8 out of 10, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 9 out of 10
spice 7/7 spice: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 7 out of 10, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 7 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The house grain character is what splits these.
- 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.
- Elijah Craig Barrel Proof: The uncut, unfiltered version of the same 12-year Heaven Hill juice, and the intensity is the whole point. Thick fudge and char with cinnamon heat, a genuinely long finish, and enough proof that water meaningfully changes the glass.
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 Elijah Craig Barrel Proof if you want maximum intensity and oak depth, and you want to control the dilution yourself with an older age statement.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve); neat (Elijah Craig Barrel Proof).