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Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve vs Old Grand-Dad Bonded
Comparing Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve and Old Grand-Dad Bonded 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 Grand-Dad Bonded |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | 63% corn, 27% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Age | 9 years +5 yr | 4 years |
| Proof | 120 proof (60% ABV) +20 proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$45 – $55 | ~$24 – $30 ~$23 less |
- Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve and Old Grand-Dad Bonded do not publish an official mash bill.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.
Old Grand-Dad Bonded
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve Old Grand-Dad Bonded
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 8/5 oak: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 8 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad Bonded 5 out of 10
heat 8/6 heat: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 8 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad Bonded 6 out of 10
nuttiness 7/5 nuttiness: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 7 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad Bonded 5 out of 10
sweetness 6/5 sweetness: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 6 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad Bonded 5 out of 10
spice 7/8 spice: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 7 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad Bonded 8 out of 10
fruit 3/4 fruit: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 3 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad Bonded 4 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Barrel influence is the main separator.
- 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 Grand-Dad Bonded: A bonded 100-proof high-rye bourbon for the price of a mixer, and one of the great bargains on the shelf. Cleaner and less overwhelming than the 114 while keeping the peppery rye backbone.
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 with an older age statement.
- Go with Old Grand-Dad Bonded if you want a bonded, high-rye workhorse at mixer money.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve); neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (Old Grand-Dad Bonded).