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Stellum Bourbon vs Knob Creek 12 Year
Comparing Stellum Bourbon and Knob Creek 12 Year reveals a matchup between an uncut, cask-strength bruiser and a traditional, spice-driven Kentucky staple.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Stellum Bourbon | Knob Creek 12 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 12 years |
| Proof | 115 proof (57.5% ABV) +15 proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$45 – $55 ~$13 less | ~$55 – $70 |
- Stellum Bourbon and Knob Creek 12 Year do not publish an official mash bill.
- US shelf prices as of 2026-10; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Stellum Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Knob Creek 12 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Stellum Bourbon Knob Creek 12 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
nuttiness 3/7 nuttiness: Stellum Bourbon 3 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 7 out of 10
oak 6/9 oak: Stellum Bourbon 6 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 9 out of 10
heat 7/5 heat: Stellum Bourbon 7 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 5 out of 10
spice 7/6 spice: Stellum Bourbon 7 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 6 out of 10
fruit 4/3 fruit: Stellum Bourbon 4 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 3 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Stellum Bourbon 6 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 6 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Nutty, grain-driven character is the divider.
- Stellum Bourbon: Barrell's lower-priced, cask-strength line. It drinks gentler than its proof, with vanilla and caramel on top of cinnamon, clove and a long, spicy finish.
- 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 Stellum Bourbon if you want a cask-strength, multi-state blend that drinks easier than its proof at a lower price point and with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
- 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, old-fashioned (Stellum Bourbon); neat, rocks (Knob Creek 12 Year).