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Willett Pot Still Reserve vs Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve
Comparing Willett Pot Still Reserve and Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve reveals a matchup between a modern, even-keeled craft expression and a traditional, spice-driven Kentucky staple.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Willett Pot Still Reserve | Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 9 years |
| Proof | 94 proof (47% ABV) | 120 proof (60% ABV) +26 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$45 – $60 | ~$45 – $55 |
- Willett Pot Still Reserve and Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve do not publish an official mash bill.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
Willett Pot Still Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Willett Pot Still Reserve Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 4/8 heat: Willett Pot Still Reserve 4 out of 10, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 8 out of 10
fruit 6/3 fruit: Willett Pot Still Reserve 6 out of 10, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 3 out of 10
nuttiness 4/7 nuttiness: Willett Pot Still Reserve 4 out of 10, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 7 out of 10
spice 5/7 spice: Willett Pot Still Reserve 5 out of 10, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 7 out of 10
oak 6/8 oak: Willett Pot Still Reserve 6 out of 10, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 8 out of 10
sweetness 7/6 sweetness: Willett Pot Still Reserve 7 out of 10, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 6 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Proof and heat dominate the difference.
- Willett Pot Still Reserve: Famous first for the pot-still-shaped decanter and second for the whiskey, which is a fair ordering. Pleasant, sweet and fruit-leaning, with a good deal of the price attached to the glass.
- 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 Willett Pot Still Reserve if you want a distinctive bottle on the shelf and an easy, fruit-forward pour inside it.
- 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.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Willett Pot Still Reserve); neat, old-fashioned (Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve).