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Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve vs Kentucky Owl Batch 12
Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve and Kentucky Owl Batch 12 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 | Kentucky Owl Batch 12 |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | 9 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 120 proof (60% ABV) +4 proof | 115.8 proof (57.9% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$45 – $55 ~$300 less | ~$300 – $400 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Limited |
- Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve and Kentucky Owl Batch 12 do not publish an official mash bill.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.
Kentucky Owl Batch 12
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve Kentucky Owl Batch 12
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
nuttiness 7/3 nuttiness: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 7 out of 10, Kentucky Owl Batch 12 3 out of 10
fruit 3/4 fruit: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 3 out of 10, Kentucky Owl Batch 12 4 out of 10
heat 8/7 heat: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 8 out of 10, Kentucky Owl Batch 12 7 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 6 out of 10, Kentucky Owl Batch 12 6 out of 10
spice 7/7 spice: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 7 out of 10, Kentucky Owl Batch 12 7 out of 10
oak 8/8 oak: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 8 out of 10, Kentucky Owl Batch 12 8 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.
- Kentucky Owl Batch 12: A high-end blend of young and older sourced Kentucky bourbons. Leather, smoky oak and caramel, with a peppery, spice-forward palate.
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 Kentucky Owl Batch 12 if you want a spicy, leathery, high-end blended bourbon with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve); neat (Kentucky Owl Batch 12).