Compare
Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve vs Old Forester 1870 Original Batch
Comparing Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve and Old Forester 1870 Original Batch reveals a matchup between a traditional, spice-driven Kentucky staple and a traditional, spice-driven Kentucky staple.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve | Old Forester 1870 Original Batch |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Age | 9 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 120 proof (60% ABV) +30 proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$45 – $55 | ~$45 – $55 |
- 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.
Old Forester 1870 Original Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve Old Forester 1870 Original Batch
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 8/3 heat: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 8 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 3 out of 10
nuttiness 7/2 nuttiness: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 7 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 2 out of 10
spice 7/4 spice: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 7 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 4 out of 10
oak 8/5 oak: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 8 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 5 out of 10
fruit 3/6 fruit: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 3 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 6 out of 10
sweetness 6/7 sweetness: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 6 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 7 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.
- Old Forester 1870 Original Batch: The first bottle in Old Forester's Whiskey Row Series, recreating the founder's habit of blending barrels from three warehouses. It is the lightest of the series, caramel sweet and easy.
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 Old Forester 1870 Original Batch if you want the gentlest, most easygoing pour in the Whiskey Row Series.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve); neat, rocks, highball (Old Forester 1870 Original Batch).