Compare
Bulleit Bourbon vs Knob Creek 9 Year
Comparing Bulleit Bourbon and Knob Creek 9 Year is a closer contest than it looks — both are high-rye bourbons, separated mainly by proof (90 vs. 100).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Bulleit Bourbon | 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 | No age statement | 9 years |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +10 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$25 – $32 ~$9 less | ~$35 – $40 |
- Knob Creek 9 Year does 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
Bulleit Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Knob Creek 9 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Bulleit Bourbon Knob Creek 9 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
nuttiness 3/7 nuttiness: Bulleit Bourbon 3 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 7 out of 10
oak 5/8 oak: Bulleit Bourbon 5 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 8 out of 10
fruit 5/3 fruit: Bulleit Bourbon 5 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 3 out of 10
spice 7/6 spice: Bulleit Bourbon 7 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 6 out of 10
heat 4/5 heat: Bulleit Bourbon 4 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 5 out of 10
sweetness 5/5 sweetness: Bulleit Bourbon 5 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The house grain character is what splits these.
- Bulleit Bourbon: The bottle that put high-rye bourbon in every cocktail bar in the country. Peppery and dry with the familiar MGP dill note, and it earns its place behind the bar more than in a glass on its own.
- 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 if you want a dry, peppery, high-rye bourbon built for cocktails and available absolutely everywhere at a slightly lower price point.
- 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 old-fashioned, cocktails, highball (Bulleit Bourbon); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Knob Creek 9 Year).