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Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel vs Knob Creek 12 Year
On paper Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel and Knob Creek 12 Year are near neighbours — both high-rye bourbons — so proof (110 vs. 100) is what actually decides it.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel | Knob Creek 12 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 12 years |
| Proof | 110 proof (55% ABV) +10 proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$55 – $70 | ~$55 – $70 |
| Availability | Limited | 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
Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Knob Creek 12 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Knob Creek 12 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
nuttiness 3/7 nuttiness: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 3 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 7 out of 10
spice 8/6 spice: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 8 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 6 out of 10
heat 7/5 heat: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 7 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 5 out of 10
oak 8/9 oak: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 8 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 9 out of 10
fruit 4/3 fruit: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 4 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 3 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 6 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Nutty, grain-driven character is the divider.
- Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel: Non-chill-filtered single barrels at 110 proof, and the format that store picks have made a cult of. Concentrated Wild Turkey character with a texture the standard bottlings do not have.
- 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 Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel if you want concentrated Wild Turkey character with single-barrel variation and real texture with more proof behind it.
- Go with Knob Creek 12 Year if you want the Beam house profile pushed as far into oak as it goes while staying balanced without hunting for it.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel); neat, rocks (Knob Creek 12 Year).