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Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve vs Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B
Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve and Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, rye-forward classic versus an old-guard, wheat-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve | Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | 9 years | 12 years +3 yr |
| Proof | 120 proof (60% ABV) +30 proof | 90.4 proof (45.2% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$45 – $55 ~$485 less | ~$170 – $900 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Allocated |
- Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve and Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B do not publish an official mash bill.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.
Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 8/3 heat: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 8 out of 10, Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B 3 out of 10
spice 7/3 spice: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 7 out of 10, Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B 3 out of 10
nuttiness 7/3 nuttiness: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 7 out of 10, Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B 3 out of 10
sweetness 6/8 sweetness: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 6 out of 10, Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B 8 out of 10
oak 8/6 oak: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 8 out of 10, Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B 6 out of 10
fruit 3/5 fruit: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 3 out of 10, Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B 5 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.
- Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B: Twelve-year wheated bourbon from the Van Winkle line. Soft and balanced, with butterscotch, toffee and caramel and a gentle, spiced 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 without hunting for it.
- Go with Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B if you want a soft, balanced, 12-year wheater from the Van Winkle line with an older age statement.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve); neat (Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B).