Compare
Michter's US*1 Small Batch vs Knob Creek 12 Year
Michter's US*1 Small Batch and Knob Creek 12 Year sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: a sourced, classically built blend versus an old-guard, rye-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Michter's US*1 Small Batch | Knob Creek 12 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 12 years |
| Proof | 91.4 proof (45.7% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +9 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$45 – $55 ~$13 less | ~$55 – $70 |
- Michter's US*1 Small Batch and Knob Creek 12 Year do not publish an official mash bill.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
Michter's US*1 Small Batch
No notes yet.
Knob Creek 12 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Michter's US*1 Small Batch Knob Creek 12 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 5/9 oak: Michter's US*1 Small Batch 5 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 9 out of 10
nuttiness 4/7 nuttiness: Michter's US*1 Small Batch 4 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 7 out of 10
spice 4/6 spice: Michter's US*1 Small Batch 4 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 6 out of 10
fruit 5/3 fruit: Michter's US*1 Small Batch 5 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 3 out of 10
heat 3/5 heat: Michter's US*1 Small Batch 3 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 5 out of 10
sweetness 7/6 sweetness: Michter's US*1 Small Batch 7 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 6 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Barrel influence is the main separator.
- Michter's US*1 Small Batch: Polished and easy-drinking, with butterscotch and stone fruit and very little rough edge. What you pay for is refinement and mouthfeel rather than age or proof.
- Knob Creek 12 Year: Three more years in the barrel than the standard Knob Creek, and the wood does all the talking. Deep oak and leather over the familiar Beam peanut note, drying toward genuinely tannic on the finish.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Michter's US*1 Small Batch if you want a smooth, polished pour with a premium feel and no rough edges at a lower price point and with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
- Go with Knob Creek 12 Year if you want the Beam house profile pushed as far into oak as it goes while staying balanced with slightly more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Michter's US*1 Small Batch); neat, rocks (Knob Creek 12 Year).