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Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style vs Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve
Comparing Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style and Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve is a closer contest than it looks — both are high-rye bourbons, separated mainly by price (~$55 – $70 vs. ~$45 – $55).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style | Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 9 years |
| Proof | 115 proof (57.5% ABV) | 120 proof (60% ABV) +5 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$55 – $70 | ~$45 – $55 ~$13 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
Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
nuttiness 3/7 nuttiness: Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 3 out of 10, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 7 out of 10
sweetness 8/6 sweetness: Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 8 out of 10, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 6 out of 10
fruit 5/3 fruit: Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 5 out of 10, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 3 out of 10
oak 7/8 oak: Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 7 out of 10, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 8 out of 10
heat 7/8 heat: Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 7 out of 10, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 8 out of 10
spice 7/7 spice: Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 7 out of 10, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 7 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Nutty, grain-driven character is the divider.
- Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style: Dense and syrupy for its age, with molasses and dark chocolate carrying a serious 115-proof punch. The high rye reads as baking spice rather than sharpness, and the body is unusually thick.
- 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.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style if you want a rich, high-proof, dessert-leaning bourbon with real weight in the glass.
- 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.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style); neat, old-fashioned (Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve).