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Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve vs Maker’s Mark 46
Comparing Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve and Maker’s Mark 46 reveals a matchup between a traditional, spice-driven Kentucky staple and a traditional, wheated Kentucky staple.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve | Maker’s Mark 46 |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | 70% corn, 16% wheat, 14% malted barley |
| Age | 9 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 120 proof (60% ABV) +26 proof | 94 proof (47% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$45 – $55 | ~$38 – $45 ~$9 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.
Maker’s Mark 46
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve Maker’s Mark 46
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 8/4 heat: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 8 out of 10, Maker’s Mark 46 4 out of 10
nuttiness 7/3 nuttiness: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 7 out of 10, Maker’s Mark 46 3 out of 10
spice 7/4 spice: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 7 out of 10, Maker’s Mark 46 4 out of 10
sweetness 6/8 sweetness: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 6 out of 10, Maker’s Mark 46 8 out of 10
oak 8/7 oak: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 8 out of 10, Maker’s Mark 46 7 out of 10
fruit 3/4 fruit: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 3 out of 10, Maker’s Mark 46 4 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.
- Maker’s Mark 46: Finished with seared French oak staves inside the barrel, which adds the spice and wood that the standard bottling deliberately lacks. The most useful upgrade in the Maker's range.
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 Maker’s Mark 46 if you want the softness of Maker's Mark with real oak and spice layered over it at a slightly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Maker’s Mark 46).