Knob Creek 12 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon

Product Description

Knob Creek 12 Year Old Bourbon: Full Proof, Twelve Years, No Shortcuts

Knob Creek 12 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon is the brand’s oldest core bottle, and it earned its reputation fast. It’s bottled at 100 proof, uncut, with the full flavor and strength Knob Creek’s first Master Distiller, Booker Noe, intended. The label says it plainly: “Full proof for full flavor. An honest Pre-Prohibition style bourbon.” Whisky Advocate named it its #2 Whiskey of the Year in 2020, and it has been a hard bottle to keep in stock ever since.

Knob Creek was founded by Booker Noe, the sixth-generation Jim Beam master distiller, as a tribute to the way whiskey was made before Prohibition, in limited batches, at high proof, with a long wait in the barrel. The 12 Year Old takes that idea further, with twelve years in new charred oak. That time in the barrel gives it an age statement that most bourbons at this price don’t carry, and it delivers a big, bold, sweet, and spicy pour.

How Knob Creek 12 Year Is Made

Knob Creek 12 Year is a small batch Kentucky straight bourbon made at the Jim Beam Distillery in Clermont, Kentucky, from a corn-heavy mash bill with rye and malted barley. It’s aged twelve years in new charred American white oak, and the barrels are drawn primarily from the center of the rackhouse, where the climate is the most consistent, so the bourbon matures evenly and picks up concentrated caramel, vanilla, and oak without harshness. It’s bottled at 100 proof (50% ABV), which keeps the texture and the flavor full.

Tasting Notes

Appearance: Dark amber with a touch of red.

Nose: Heavy brown sugar balanced with char and subtle cocoa, with toffee, toasted coconut, and a little matured tobacco.

Palate: Full-bodied, with toffee and baking spice, caramel, vanilla, and bold spicy overtones backed by baked berry and orchard fruit.

Finish: Long and complex, with lingering warm vanilla, caramel sauce, and warm baking spices.

Food Pairings

The brown sugar, toffee, and baking spice in Knob Creek 12 pair well with smoked brisket, barbecue ribs, grilled steak, and glazed pork. It also goes with dark chocolate, pecan pie, bread pudding, and aged cheddar. For a simple match, try roasted nuts or a square of dark chocolate.

Serving Suggestions

At 100 proof, Knob Creek 12 is best sipped neat or with a few drops of water, which opens the sweet and spicy layers. A single large ice cube works if you like it cooler. It also makes a rich Old Fashioned or Manhattan, where the proof holds up and the age adds depth.

Frequently Asked Questions

What proof is Knob Creek 12 Year? 100 proof (50% ABV).

How old is it? 12 years, with the age statement on the label.

Who makes it? Knob Creek, part of Jim Beam, at its distillery in Clermont, Kentucky.

What does “pre-Prohibition style” mean? It refers to bottling bourbon at higher proof with a long maturation, the way it was made before Prohibition.

How is it different from the 9 Year? The 12 Year has more oak influence, richer caramel and spice, and a longer, more developed finish.

Is it a small batch bourbon? Yes, it’s a small batch Kentucky straight bourbon.

Is it good for cocktails? Yes, but most people sip it neat or on the rocks. It works well in an Old Fashioned.

Explore More

Want to compare it with the rest of the line? Shop the full Knob Creek collection for the 9, 10, 15, and 18 Year bottles and the rye, or browse our Bourbon collection for more aged Kentucky bourbons.

The Quality Liquor Store Guarantee

At Quality Liquor Store, we guarantee the authenticity and quality of every bottle we sell. All of our products are sourced directly from authorized distributors, and every order is carefully packaged to arrive safely at your door. Shop with confidence knowing your bourbon is in good hands.