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Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond vs Knob Creek 12 Year
Put Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond next to Knob Creek 12 Year and you have a classic, high-wheat stalwart set against a classic, high-rye stalwart.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond | Knob Creek 12 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 68% corn, 20% wheat, 12% malted barley | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | 9 years | 12 years +3 yr |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$110 – $180 | ~$55 – $70 ~$83 less |
| Availability | Allocated | Widely available easier to find |
- Knob Creek 12 Year 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
Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Knob Creek 12 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond Knob Creek 12 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 2/6 spice: Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 2 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/7 nuttiness: Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 3 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 7 out of 10
fruit 6/3 fruit: Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 3 out of 10
sweetness 8/6 sweetness: Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 8 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 6 out of 10
oak 7/9 oak: Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 7 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 9 out of 10
heat 4/5 heat: Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Rye spice is the dividing line here.
- Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond: The decanter series, released twice a year at varying ages, and Heaven Hill's most serious wheated statement. Age shows as polished oak and stewed fruit rather than tannin, but you pay handsomely for the bottle.
- 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 Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond if you want an aged, bonded wheater in a presentation bottle and the price is not the obstacle.
- Go with Knob Creek 12 Year if you want the Beam house profile pushed as far into oak as it goes while staying balanced at a significantly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat (Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond); neat, rocks (Knob Creek 12 Year).