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Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve vs Elijah Craig Small Batch
Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve and Elijah Craig Small Batch sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, rye-forward classic versus an old-guard, classically built classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve | Elijah Craig 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) +26 proof | 94 proof (47% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$45 – $55 | ~$28 – $35 ~$19 less |
- 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 Small Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve Elijah Craig Small Batch
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 8/4 heat: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 8 out of 10, Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10
nuttiness 7/4 nuttiness: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 7 out of 10, Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10
spice 7/5 spice: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 7 out of 10, Elijah Craig Small Batch 5 out of 10
oak 8/7 oak: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 8 out of 10, Elijah Craig Small Batch 7 out of 10
fruit 3/4 fruit: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 3 out of 10, Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 6 out of 10, Elijah Craig Small Batch 6 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Proof and heat dominate the difference.
- 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 Small Batch: A heavily oak-driven pour for the money, with vanilla bean and brown sugar riding on top of real char and smoke. The extra age shows up as wood depth rather than harshness.
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 Elijah Craig Small Batch if you want the best oak-forward value on the shelf, with more wood character than its price suggests.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Elijah Craig Small Batch).