Last Updated on: 10th April 2024, 09:20 pm
J Highland
J Highland is a certified sommelier with 30 years in the liquor industry, owning a pub, a liquor store, and moonlighting as a spirits distiller.
Discover the differences between Knob Creek 12 vs Weller 12 in this head-to-head comparison and decide which Bourbon is better for You!
Quick Note: Running a pub and liquor store provides me ample access to various spirits, in addition, I moonlight as a spirits distiller. I assess them using customer feedback, expert opinions and online research.
Written by: J Highland
Knob Creek 12 vs Weller 12: Comparison
Knob Creek 12: A distinguished bourbon from the Jim Beam Distillery, aged for 12 years, showcasing a complex blend of roasted peanuts, caramel, and oak on the nose, with a palate rich in oak spice, dark chocolate, and cherries. The finish is long and satisfying, featuring cherry, chocolate, and a hint of black pepper, best enjoyed neat or with a large ice ball to temper the oak’s intensity.
Weller 12: This wheated bourbon from Buffalo Trace Distillery offers a subtly sweet aroma with notes of brown sugar and vanilla, leading into a creamy palate of vanilla, caramel, and cherry. The finish is smooth with vanilla, caramel, and oak, but may be shorter than some prefer. Despite its popularity, the experience may not justify the hype for all drinkers.
Comparison: Knob Creek 12 and Weller 12 each provide a unique bourbon experience, from the robust and spicy profile of Knob Creek to the smooth, wheated sweetness of Weller, states whiskey expert Neil Coleman.
Related: Best Alternatives to Weller
Knob Creek 12
- Nose: Roasted peanuts, caramel, oak, brown sugar
- Palate: Oak spice, dark chocolate, peanuts, cherry, oak
- Finish: Cherry, chocolate, black pepper
- Alcohol content: 100 proof (50% ABV)
- How to drink: Add water
- Similar to: Knob Creek 15
Knob Creek 12, like regular Jim Beam, is produced at the Jim Beam Distillery but stands out due to its 12-year aging process and the use of highly charred oak barrels.
Taste-wise, it starts sweet with roasted peanuts, caramel, and oak on the nose.
The palate reveals a robust oak spice, with hints of bitter chocolate, cherry, and the signature peanut note.
The finish is long, with rich oak, dark chocolate, cherry, and a touch of black pepper.
Enjoy it neat, as water may intensify the oak, or over a large ice ball for a balanced experience.
Knob Creek 12 facts:
- Made from a mash bill comprised of 75% corn, 13% rye, and 12% malted barley.
- Originally released as a limited edition in the fall of 2019, but became a permanent addition to Knob Creek’s lineup in 2020.
- Knob Creek takes its name from the water stream that ran through Abe Lincoln’s childhood farm.
Weller 12
- Nose: Caramel, cinnamon, oak
- Palate: Cherry, cinnamon, vanilla, oak
- Finish: Cinnamon, caramel, vanilla
- Alcohol content: 90 proof (45% ABV)
- How to drink: Rocks
- Similar to: Van Winkle 12
Weller 12 presents a subtly sweet nose with brown sugar, vanilla, baking spice, and oak.
Its creamy texture unfolds flavors of vanilla, caramel, cherry, and a hint of oak.
The finish, while not lengthy, maintains smoothness without excessive heat, with vanilla, caramel, and oak notes persisting.
It’s an easy-drinking bourbon with a buttery feel, but the short finish might disappoint.
Adding water enhances spice upfront but doesn’t affect the finish.
Despite the hype and cost, Weller 12 may not fully meet expectations.
Weller 12 facts:
- Aged for 12 years in new, charred American Oak barrels.
- Made from a wheated mash at the Buffalo Trace Distillery.
- Earned Double Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
Price comparison
Prices are approximate and stated in USD:
| Whisky | Price |
| Knob Creek 12 | $75 |
| Weller 12 | $300 |