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Old Grand-Dad 114 vs Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve
On paper Old Grand-Dad 114 and Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve are near neighbours — both high-rye bourbons — so price (~$28 – $35 vs. ~$45 – $55) is what actually decides it.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Old Grand-Dad 114 | Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 63% corn, 27% rye, 10% malted barley | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 9 years |
| Proof | 114 proof (57% ABV) | 120 proof (60% ABV) +6 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$28 – $35 ~$19 less | ~$45 – $55 |
- Old Grand-Dad 114 and Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve do not publish an official mash bill.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
Old Grand-Dad 114
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Old Grand-Dad 114 Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 9/7 spice: Old Grand-Dad 114 9 out of 10, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 7 out of 10
oak 6/8 oak: Old Grand-Dad 114 6 out of 10, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 8 out of 10
nuttiness 5/7 nuttiness: Old Grand-Dad 114 5 out of 10, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 7 out of 10
fruit 4/3 fruit: Old Grand-Dad 114 4 out of 10, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 3 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Old Grand-Dad 114 6 out of 10, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 6 out of 10
heat 8/8 heat: Old Grand-Dad 114 8 out of 10, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 8 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The gap between these two is mostly about spice.
- Old Grand-Dad 114: The best proof-per-dollar in American whiskey and it is not especially close. The 27% rye mash at 114 proof is loud, peppery and completely unsubtle, which is exactly why it makes such a good old-fashioned.
- 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 Grand-Dad 114 if you want maximum rye spice and proof for under thirty dollars.
- 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, cocktails (Old Grand-Dad 114); neat, old-fashioned (Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve).