Compare
Stagg vs Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve
Comparing Stagg and Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve reveals a matchup between an uncut, cask-strength bruiser and a traditional, spice-driven Kentucky staple.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Stagg | Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 9 years |
| Proof | 130 proof (65% ABV) +10 proof | 120 proof (60% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$70 – $120 | ~$45 – $55 ~$45 less |
| Availability | Limited | Widely available easier to find |
- Stagg and Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve do not publish an official mash bill.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
Stagg
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Stagg Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
nuttiness 4/7 nuttiness: Stagg 4 out of 10, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 7 out of 10
fruit 5/3 fruit: Stagg 5 out of 10, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 3 out of 10
heat 10/8 heat: Stagg 10 out of 10, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 8 out of 10
sweetness 7/6 sweetness: Stagg 7 out of 10, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 6 out of 10
oak 9/8 oak: Stagg 9 out of 10, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 8 out of 10
spice 7/7 spice: Stagg 7 out of 10, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 7 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The house grain character is what splits these.
- Stagg: Uncut and unfiltered Buffalo Trace at a proof that demands respect. Dark chocolate, espresso and charred oak arrive with genuine heat, and a few drops of water unlock a surprising amount of fruit.
- 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 Stagg if you want the biggest, hottest, most concentrated expression of the Buffalo Trace profile with more proof behind it.
- 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 without hunting for it.
Best enjoyed neat (Stagg); neat, old-fashioned (Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve).