Compare
Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve vs Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon
Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve and Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, rye-forward classic versus a sourced, wheat-forward blend.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve | Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | 72% corn, 18% wheat, 10% malted barley |
| Age | 9 years +4 yr | 5 years |
| Proof | 120 proof (60% ABV) +20 proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$45 – $55 | ~$49 – $55 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Limited |
- Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve and Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon do not publish an official mash bill.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.
Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 8/5 heat: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 8 out of 10, Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon 5 out of 10
spice 7/5 spice: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 7 out of 10, Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon 5 out of 10
oak 8/6 oak: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 8 out of 10, Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon 6 out of 10
nuttiness 7/5 nuttiness: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 7 out of 10, Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon 5 out of 10
sweetness 6/7 sweetness: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 6 out of 10, Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon 7 out of 10
fruit 3/3 fruit: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 3 out of 10, Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon 3 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.
- Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon: A Notre Dame-licensed wheater given a second, double-oaked barrel. Maple, honey butter and toasted nuts lead, with charred wood and pepper on a long, warm finish.
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 Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon if you want a double-oaked wheater with maple, toasted nuts and charred wood.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve); neat, old-fashioned (Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon).