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Woodford Reserve vs Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve
Comparing Woodford Reserve and Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve reveals a matchup between a traditional, spice-driven Kentucky staple and a traditional, spice-driven Kentucky staple.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Woodford Reserve | Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 9 years |
| Proof | 90.4 proof (45.2% ABV) | 120 proof (60% ABV) +30 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$35 – $42 ~$12 less | ~$45 – $55 |
- Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve does 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
Woodford Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Woodford Reserve Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 4/8 heat: Woodford Reserve 4 out of 10, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 8 out of 10
nuttiness 3/7 nuttiness: Woodford Reserve 3 out of 10, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 7 out of 10
fruit 6/3 fruit: Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 3 out of 10
oak 6/8 oak: Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 8 out of 10
spice 6/7 spice: Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 7 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 6 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Proof and heat dominate the difference.
- Woodford Reserve: The most widely poured premium bourbon in America, and a genuinely well-made one. Dried fruit and cocoa over a balanced 18% rye mash, finished smooth enough to please almost anyone.
- 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 Woodford Reserve if you want a polished, widely available crowd-pleaser that never puts a foot wrong 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.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Woodford Reserve); neat, old-fashioned (Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve).