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Old Forester 100 Proof vs Knob Creek 12 Year
Old Forester 100 Proof and Knob Creek 12 Year are cut from similar cloth: two takes on high-rye bourbons, where the real difference is price (~$26 – $32 vs. ~$55 – $70).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Old Forester 100 Proof | Knob Creek 12 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 12 years |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$26 – $32 ~$34 less | ~$55 – $70 |
- 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 Forester 100 Proof
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Knob Creek 12 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Old Forester 100 Proof Knob Creek 12 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
nuttiness 3/7 nuttiness: Old Forester 100 Proof 3 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 7 out of 10
oak 6/9 oak: Old Forester 100 Proof 6 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 9 out of 10
fruit 5/3 fruit: Old Forester 100 Proof 5 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 3 out of 10
sweetness 7/6 sweetness: Old Forester 100 Proof 7 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 6 out of 10
spice 6/6 spice: Old Forester 100 Proof 6 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 6 out of 10
heat 5/5 heat: Old Forester 100 Proof 5 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Nutty, grain-driven character is the divider.
- Old Forester 100 Proof: The bottle most people should buy from this range: the same recipe as the 86 with enough proof to actually taste it. One of the strongest arguments on the shelf for spending six dollars more.
- 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 Forester 100 Proof if you want the best value in the Old Forester range and a superb old-fashioned base.
- Go with Knob Creek 12 Year if you want the Beam house profile pushed as far into oak as it goes while staying balanced.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Old Forester 100 Proof); neat, rocks (Knob Creek 12 Year).