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Buffalo Trace vs Knob Creek 9 Year
Comparing Buffalo Trace and Knob Creek 9 Year reveals a matchup between a traditional, even-keeled Kentucky staple and a traditional, spice-driven Kentucky staple.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Buffalo Trace | Knob Creek 9 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 9 years |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +10 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$28 – $35 ~$6 less | ~$35 – $40 |
| Availability | Limited | Widely available easier to find |
- Buffalo Trace and Knob Creek 9 Year do not publish an official mash bill.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
Buffalo Trace
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Knob Creek 9 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Buffalo Trace Knob Creek 9 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
nuttiness 4/7 nuttiness: Buffalo Trace 4 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 7 out of 10
oak 6/8 oak: Buffalo Trace 6 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 8 out of 10
fruit 5/3 fruit: Buffalo Trace 5 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 3 out of 10
sweetness 6/5 sweetness: Buffalo Trace 6 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 5 out of 10
spice 5/6 spice: Buffalo Trace 5 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 6 out of 10
heat 4/5 heat: Buffalo Trace 4 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The house grain character is what splits these.
- Buffalo Trace: The reference-point Kentucky bourbon: balanced brown sugar and vanilla sweetness, a whisper of mint, and just enough oak and spice to keep it interesting. Nothing is loud, which is exactly the point at 90 proof.
- Knob Creek 9 Year: This classic Jim Beam offering leans heavily into traditional oak, rich caramel, vanilla, and the signature Beam peanut-funk nuttiness. At 100 proof it delivers a bolder, more structural wood-and-spice influence with a touch of citrus zest and mint on the finish.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Buffalo Trace if you want the balanced, everyday Kentucky benchmark that does nothing wrong at a fair price.
- Go with Knob Creek 9 Year if you want a classic peanut-and-oak-forward Kentucky bourbon with an older age statement with more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Buffalo Trace); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Knob Creek 9 Year).