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Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve vs Maker’s Mark Cask Strength
Put Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve next to Maker’s Mark Cask Strength and you have a classic, high-rye stalwart set against an uncut, high-wheat heavyweight.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve | Maker’s Mark Cask Strength |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon, Barrel Proof |
| 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) +10 proof | 110 proof (55% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$45 – $55 | ~$40 – $50 ~$5 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 Cask Strength
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve Maker’s Mark Cask Strength
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 7/3 spice: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 7 out of 10, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 3 out of 10
nuttiness 7/3 nuttiness: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 7 out of 10, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 3 out of 10
sweetness 6/9 sweetness: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 6 out of 10, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 9 out of 10
oak 8/5 oak: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 8 out of 10, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 5 out of 10
fruit 3/5 fruit: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 3 out of 10, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 5 out of 10
heat 8/7 heat: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 8 out of 10, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 7 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Rye spice is the dividing line here.
- 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 Cask Strength: Undiluted Maker's, and the version that finally gives the wheated recipe some weight. Dense caramel and honey with real warmth, and one of the more affordable cask-strength bottles anywhere.
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 Cask Strength if you want wheated sweetness at full strength for well under what most cask-strength bourbons cost.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve); neat, rocks (Maker’s Mark Cask Strength).