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Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve vs Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel
Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve and Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel are cut from similar cloth: two takes on high-rye bourbons, where the real difference is proof (120 vs. 110).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve | Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | 9 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 120 proof (60% ABV) +10 proof | 110 proof (55% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$45 – $55 ~$13 less | ~$55 – $70 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Limited |
- 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.
Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
nuttiness 7/3 nuttiness: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 7 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 3 out of 10
spice 7/8 spice: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 7 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 8 out of 10
fruit 3/4 fruit: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 3 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 4 out of 10
heat 8/7 heat: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 8 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 7 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 6 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 6 out of 10
oak 8/8 oak: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 8 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 8 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The house grain character is what splits these.
- 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.
- Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel: Non-chill-filtered single barrels at 110 proof, and the format that store picks have made a cult of. Concentrated Wild Turkey character with a texture the standard bottlings do not have.
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 without hunting for it.
- Go with Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel if you want concentrated Wild Turkey character with single-barrel variation and real texture with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve); neat, old-fashioned (Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel).