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Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve vs Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year
Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve and Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, rye-forward classic versus an undiluted barrel-strength pour.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve | Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | 68% corn, 18% rye, 14% malted barley |
| Age | 9 years +5 yr | 4 years |
| Proof | 120 proof (60% ABV) | 125.2 proof (62.6% ABV) +5 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$45 – $55 ~$20 less | ~$65 – $75 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Limited |
- Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve and Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year do not publish an official mash bill.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.
Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 8/4 oak: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 8 out of 10, Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year 4 out of 10
nuttiness 7/3 nuttiness: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 7 out of 10, Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year 3 out of 10
fruit 3/6 fruit: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 3 out of 10, Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year 6 out of 10
sweetness 6/7 sweetness: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 6 out of 10, Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year 7 out of 10
spice 7/6 spice: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 7 out of 10, Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year 6 out of 10
heat 8/9 heat: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 8 out of 10, Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year 9 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.
- Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year: Willett's own young distillate at full barrel proof. It is loud and sweet, all caramel corn, pastry and citrus, with a lot of heat for a four-year bourbon. Proof varies by batch.
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 Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year if you want a young, hot, barrel-proof pour that shows off Willett's own distillate with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve); neat (Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year).