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Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve vs Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year
Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve and Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year 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 | Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year |
|---|---|---|
| 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 +2 yr | 7 years |
| Proof | 120 proof (60% ABV) +20 proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$45 – $55 | ~$35 – $45 ~$10 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.
Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 8/5 heat: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 8 out of 10, Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year 5 out of 10
spice 7/5 spice: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 7 out of 10, Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year 5 out of 10
nuttiness 7/5 nuttiness: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 7 out of 10, Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year 5 out of 10
oak 8/7 oak: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 8 out of 10, Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year 7 out of 10
fruit 3/4 fruit: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 3 out of 10, Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year 4 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 6 out of 10, Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year 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.
- Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year: Seven years, bonded, and priced sensibly — the specification sheet reads like something from twenty years ago. Balanced and oak-leaning without ever getting heavy.
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 with an older age statement.
- Go with Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year if you want a bonded, age-stated Kentucky bourbon that gets the fundamentals right for under forty dollars.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year).