Compare
W.L. Weller Special Reserve vs Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve
Comparing W.L. Weller Special Reserve and Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve reveals a matchup between a traditional, wheated Kentucky staple and a traditional, spice-driven Kentucky staple.
Key Specifications
| Feature | W.L. Weller Special Reserve | Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 9 years |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 120 proof (60% ABV) +30 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$30 – $60 ~$5 less | ~$45 – $55 |
| Availability | Allocated | Widely available easier to find |
- W.L. Weller Special Reserve and Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve do not publish an official mash bill.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
W.L. Weller Special Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
W.L. Weller Special Reserve Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 2/7 spice: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 2 out of 10, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 7 out of 10
heat 3/8 heat: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 3 out of 10, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 8 out of 10
oak 4/8 oak: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 4 out of 10, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 8 out of 10
nuttiness 3/7 nuttiness: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 3 out of 10, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 7 out of 10
fruit 5/3 fruit: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 5 out of 10, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 3 out of 10
sweetness 7/6 sweetness: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 7 out of 10, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 6 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Rye spice is the dividing line here.
- 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 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 W.L. Weller Special Reserve if you want the softest, sweetest, most approachable wheated pour of the group at a slightly lower price point.
- 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, rocks, highball (W.L. Weller Special Reserve); neat, old-fashioned (Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve).