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Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve vs W.L. Weller 12 Year
Comparing Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve and W.L. Weller 12 Year reveals a matchup between a traditional, spice-driven Kentucky staple and a traditional, wheated Kentucky staple.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve | W.L. Weller 12 Year |
|---|---|---|
| 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 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$45 – $55 ~$75 less | ~$70 – $180 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Allocated |
- Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve and W.L. Weller 12 Year do not publish an official mash bill.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.
W.L. Weller 12 Year
No notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve W.L. Weller 12 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 7/2 spice: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 7 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 2 out of 10
heat 8/3 heat: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 8 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 3 out of 10
nuttiness 7/3 nuttiness: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 7 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 3 out of 10
fruit 3/6 fruit: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 3 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 6 out of 10
sweetness 6/8 sweetness: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 6 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 8 out of 10
oak 8/7 oak: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 8 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 7 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The gap between these two is mostly about spice.
- 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.
- W.L. Weller 12 Year: Twelve years on a wheated mash at a modest 90 proof, which is the combination that made this bottle famous. Deep caramel and baked fruit with polished rather than aggressive oak — the closest widely-discussed analogue to the Pappy profile.
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 W.L. Weller 12 Year if you want age and elegance on a wheated mash, and you are willing to chase it.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve); neat (W.L. Weller 12 Year).