Compare
Bulleit Bourbon 10 Year vs Knob Creek 9 Year
Comparing Bulleit Bourbon 10 Year and Knob Creek 9 Year is a closer contest than it looks — both are high-rye bourbons, separated mainly by proof (91.2 vs. 100).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Bulleit Bourbon 10 Year | Knob Creek 9 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 68% corn, 28% rye, 4% malted barley | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | 10 years +1 yr | 9 years |
| Proof | 91.2 proof (45.6% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +9 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$45 – $55 | ~$35 – $40 ~$13 less |
- Bulleit Bourbon 10 Year and Knob Creek 9 Year do not publish an official mash bill.
- US shelf prices as of 2026-10; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Bulleit Bourbon 10 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Knob Creek 9 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Bulleit Bourbon 10 Year Knob Creek 9 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
nuttiness 2/7 nuttiness: Bulleit Bourbon 10 Year 2 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 7 out of 10
fruit 5/3 fruit: Bulleit Bourbon 10 Year 5 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 3 out of 10
spice 7/6 spice: Bulleit Bourbon 10 Year 7 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 6 out of 10
heat 4/5 heat: Bulleit Bourbon 10 Year 4 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 5 out of 10
sweetness 5/5 sweetness: Bulleit Bourbon 10 Year 5 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 5 out of 10
oak 8/8 oak: Bulleit Bourbon 10 Year 8 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 8 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The house grain character is what splits these.
- Bulleit Bourbon 10 Year: The older version of Bulleit's high-rye bourbon. Ten years add a lot of oak and leather to the usual rye spice, and the finish turns dry and woody.
- 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 Bulleit Bourbon 10 Year if you want an oak-forward, ten-year high-rye bourbon at a gentle proof.
- Go with Knob Creek 9 Year if you want a classic peanut-and-oak-forward Kentucky bourbon with an older age statement at a lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Bulleit Bourbon 10 Year); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Knob Creek 9 Year).