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Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve vs Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style
Comparing Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve and Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style is a closer contest than it looks — both are high-rye bourbons, separated mainly by price (~$45 – $55 vs. ~$55 – $70).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve | Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style |
|---|---|---|
| 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) +5 proof | 115 proof (57.5% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$45 – $55 ~$13 less | ~$55 – $70 |
- 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 1920 Prohibition Style
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
nuttiness 7/3 nuttiness: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 7 out of 10, Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 3 out of 10
sweetness 6/8 sweetness: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 6 out of 10, Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 8 out of 10
fruit 3/5 fruit: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 3 out of 10, Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 5 out of 10
oak 8/7 oak: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 8 out of 10, Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 7 out of 10
heat 8/7 heat: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 8 out of 10, Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 7 out of 10
spice 7/7 spice: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 7 out of 10, Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 7 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Nutty, grain-driven character is the divider.
- 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 1920 Prohibition Style: Dense and syrupy for its age, with molasses and dark chocolate carrying a serious 115-proof punch. The high rye reads as baking spice rather than sharpness, and the body is unusually thick.
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 1920 Prohibition Style if you want a rich, high-proof, dessert-leaning bourbon with real weight in the glass.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve); neat, old-fashioned (Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style).