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Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon vs Knob Creek 12 Year
Comparing Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon and Knob Creek 12 Year reveals a matchup between a modern, wheated craft expression and a traditional, spice-driven Kentucky staple.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon | Knob Creek 12 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 15% wheat, 10% malted barley | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | 4 years | 12 years +8 yr |
| Proof | 87 proof (43.5% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +13 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$40 – $45 ~$20 less | ~$55 – $70 |
- Knob Creek 12 Year does 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
Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon
Didn't care for this one.
Knob Creek 12 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon Knob Creek 12 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 4/9 oak: Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon 4 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 9 out of 10
spice 2/6 spice: Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon 2 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/7 nuttiness: Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon 3 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 7 out of 10
heat 3/5 heat: Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon 3 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 5 out of 10
fruit 4/3 fruit: Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon 4 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 3 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon 6 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 6 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Barrel influence is the main separator.
- Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon: A farm-to-bottle wheater from northern Illinois. Soft red winter wheat keeps it gentle and bready, with caramel and vanilla up front and very little bite at 87 proof.
- 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 Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon if you want a soft, easygoing wheated bourbon made start to finish on one Midwest farm 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 rocks, highball, cocktails (Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon); neat, rocks (Knob Creek 12 Year).