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W.L. Weller 12 Year vs Knob Creek 9 Year
Comparing W.L. Weller 12 Year and Knob Creek 9 Year reveals a matchup between a traditional, wheated Kentucky staple and a traditional, spice-driven Kentucky staple.
Key Specifications
| Feature | W.L. Weller 12 Year | Knob Creek 9 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | 12 years +3 yr | 9 years |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +10 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$70 – $180 | ~$35 – $40 ~$88 less |
| Availability | Allocated | Widely available easier to find |
- W.L. Weller 12 Year and Knob Creek 9 Year do not publish an official mash bill.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
W.L. Weller 12 Year
No notes yet.
Knob Creek 9 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
W.L. Weller 12 Year Knob Creek 9 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 2/6 spice: W.L. Weller 12 Year 2 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/7 nuttiness: W.L. Weller 12 Year 3 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 7 out of 10
sweetness 8/5 sweetness: W.L. Weller 12 Year 8 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 5 out of 10
fruit 6/3 fruit: W.L. Weller 12 Year 6 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 3 out of 10
heat 3/5 heat: W.L. Weller 12 Year 3 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 5 out of 10
oak 7/8 oak: W.L. Weller 12 Year 7 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 8 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Rye spice is the dividing line here.
- W.L. Weller 12 Year: Twelve years on a wheated mash at a modest 90 proof, which is the combination that made this bottle famous. Deep caramel and baked fruit with polished rather than aggressive oak — the closest widely-discussed analogue to the Pappy profile.
- Knob Creek 9 Year: This classic Jim Beam offering leans heavily into traditional oak, rich caramel, vanilla, and the signature Beam peanut-funk nuttiness. At 100 proof it delivers a bolder, more structural wood-and-spice influence with a touch of citrus zest and mint on the finish.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with W.L. Weller 12 Year if you want age and elegance on a wheated mash, and you are willing to chase it.
- Go with Knob Creek 9 Year if you want a classic peanut-and-oak-forward Kentucky bourbon with an older age statement at a significantly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat (W.L. Weller 12 Year); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Knob Creek 9 Year).