Whose Bourbon Is Better: Peyton or Eli Manning’s?

The FanDuel Kick of Destiny promotion with Eli Manning and Peyton Manning on the exterior of a building ahead of the Super Bowl 59 NFL football game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs, Feb. 8, 2025, in New Orleans. (Photo: Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)

Just ahead of Super Bowl LIX, Kentucky bourbon brand Knob Creek announced the release of a bourbon selected by former New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning.

Eli wasn’t the first member of his family to become the face of a whiskey, however. His brother and fellow quarterback, Peyton Manning, debuted Sweetens Cove Bourbon in 2020 alongside fellow sports celebrities Andy Roddick and Jim Nantz. Eli Manning was involved in Sweetens Cove as well, but Peyton was much more centered in the marketing and appears to have been more hands-on with the brand — he’s the closest thing to a face that the brand has. He even autographed bottles at liquor stores and reportedly cold-called retail locations asking them to put the brand on their shelves.

Now that the Mannings are each the face of a different bourbon — Peyton a brand, Eli a barrel pick — we ask the natural question: which is better? So, let’s compare Knob Creek Eli Manning’s 2025 Bold Pick with Kennessee — the Sweetens Cove product in the same price range as Eli’s pick.

Knob Creek Eli Manning’s 2025 Bold Pick Vs. Sweetens Cove Kennessee

Which Bourbon Costs More?

The pricing between these bottles is similar, but Kennessee wins by a hair. Kennessee sells for an average price of $53, according to Wine-Searcher. Knob Creek Eli Manning’s 2025 Bold Pick, meanwhile, has a suggested retail price of $59.99.

What Do the Bourbons Taste Like?

We reviewed Knob Creek Eli Manning’s 2025 Bold Pick and came away impressed by its sweet and oak-forward palate, tinged with citrus notes. On the nose, Eli’s bourbon delivers notes of melon, sawdust, pretzel, creamsicle, powdered-sugar-coated jelly donuts, black pepper and cinnamon. The palate is heavy on the oak with cherry, cinnamon, tannin, crème brûlée and orange blossom. A bit of heat kicks in on the finish, which ends with more oak and tannin, plus butterscotch, banana bread, peach juice and blood orange. It’s classic bourbon through and through.

Click here to read our full review of Knob Creek Eli Manning’s 2025 Bold Pick here.

A blend of bourbons from Kentucky and Tennessee, Sweetens Cove Kennessee also has something of a classic bourbon vibe, with notes of caramel, brown sugar, vanilla and some baking spice, according to Robb Report.

Which Bourbon Is Better?

Kennessee earned a Raided Score® of 91 based on reviews from five critics. Eli’s Knob Creek pick, meanwhile, has a slightly lower score of 88. So, the short answer is that Peyton’s Kennesee has been determined the better bourbon, according to the critics.

However, Eli’s bourbon’s Raided Score® is based solely on our score, as we’re the only outlet to have reviewed it as of this article’s publishing. And while two critics rated Kennessee higher than an 88, the other three scored it below that mark. So, really, the answer is it’s subjective; some palates will prefer Peyton’s bourbon, others Eli’s.

Eli’s Knob Creek pick is heavier on the oak and tannin than Peyton’s Kennessee — and is a bit stronger, at 60% ABV, vs. the 55.3% ABV of Kennessee. So if oaky, high-octane bourbon suits your palate, we’d recommend picking up a bottle of the Knob Creek. If you prefer something a little but sweeter and less tannic and hot, go with Sweetens Cove Kennessee.

Either way, you can’t go wrong. These are two really solid bourbons, and they aren’t priced astronomically high. Both are certainly worth trying.

Where Can I buy Peyton Manning and Eli Manning’s Bourbons?

Click here to find Peyton Manning’s Sweetens Cove Kennessee at a Total Wine near you.

Knob Creek Eli Manning’s 2025 Bold Pick, unfortunately, is a little tougher to find. Knob Creek dropped it as a limited-edition expression exclusively in New York, New Orleans and Los Angeles. If you’re in one of those markets, perhaps you’ll be able to stumble across a bottle — if so, and it’s priced as it should be ($60 or so), we’d recommend picking up a bottle.