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Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve vs Woodford Reserve
Comparing Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve and Woodford Reserve reveals a matchup between a traditional, spice-driven Kentucky staple and a traditional, spice-driven Kentucky staple.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve | Woodford Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Age | 9 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 120 proof (60% ABV) +30 proof | 90.4 proof (45.2% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$45 – $55 | ~$35 – $42 ~$12 less |
- 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.
Woodford Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve Woodford Reserve
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 8/4 heat: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 8 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 4 out of 10
nuttiness 7/3 nuttiness: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 7 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 3 out of 10
fruit 3/6 fruit: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 3 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10
oak 8/6 oak: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 8 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10
spice 7/6 spice: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 7 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 6 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 6 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.
- Woodford Reserve: The most widely poured premium bourbon in America, and a genuinely well-made one. Dried fruit and cocoa over a balanced 18% rye mash, finished smooth enough to please almost anyone.
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.
- Go with Woodford Reserve if you want a polished, widely available crowd-pleaser that never puts a foot wrong at a slightly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve); neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Woodford Reserve).