Compare
W.L. Weller Special Reserve vs Knob Creek 12 Year
Put W.L. Weller Special Reserve next to Knob Creek 12 Year and you have a classic, high-wheat stalwart set against a classic, high-rye stalwart.
Key Specifications
| Feature | W.L. Weller Special Reserve | Knob Creek 12 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 12 years |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +10 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$30 – $60 ~$18 less | ~$55 – $70 |
| Availability | Allocated | Widely available easier to find |
- W.L. Weller Special Reserve and Knob Creek 12 Year do not publish an official mash bill.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 Special Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Knob Creek 12 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
W.L. Weller Special Reserve Knob Creek 12 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 4/9 oak: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 4 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 9 out of 10
spice 2/6 spice: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 2 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/7 nuttiness: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 3 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 7 out of 10
fruit 5/3 fruit: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 5 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 3 out of 10
heat 3/5 heat: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 3 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 5 out of 10
sweetness 7/6 sweetness: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 7 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 6 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Barrel influence is the main separator.
- W.L. Weller Special Reserve: The entry point to the Weller line and an easy introduction to wheated bourbon. Soft honey and vanilla with almost no rye bite, a bread-dough body, and a short, sweet finish that asks nothing of you.
- 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 W.L. Weller Special Reserve if you want the softest, sweetest, most approachable wheated pour of the group at a lower price point.
- Go with Knob Creek 12 Year if you want the Beam house profile pushed as far into oak as it goes while staying balanced with more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, highball (W.L. Weller Special Reserve); neat, rocks (Knob Creek 12 Year).