Compare
David Nicholson 1843 vs Knob Creek 9 Year
Put David Nicholson 1843 next to Knob Creek 9 Year and you have a blender-built, high-wheat bottling set against a classic, high-rye stalwart.
Key Specifications
| Feature | David Nicholson 1843 | Knob Creek 9 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 9 years |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$25 – $35 ~$8 less | ~$35 – $40 |
- David Nicholson 1843 and Knob Creek 9 Year do not publish an official mash bill.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
David Nicholson 1843
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Knob Creek 9 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
David Nicholson 1843 Knob Creek 9 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 4/8 oak: David Nicholson 1843 4 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 8 out of 10
nuttiness 3/7 nuttiness: David Nicholson 1843 3 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 7 out of 10
spice 3/6 spice: David Nicholson 1843 3 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 6 out of 10
sweetness 7/5 sweetness: David Nicholson 1843 7 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 5 out of 10
fruit 4/3 fruit: David Nicholson 1843 4 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 3 out of 10
heat 5/5 heat: David Nicholson 1843 5 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Oak is doing most of the differentiating here.
- David Nicholson 1843: A long-running wheated label at 100 proof. Smooth vanilla and caramel with a soft, bready body and a touch more spice than you would expect from a wheater.
- 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 David Nicholson 1843 if you want a smooth, 100-proof wheater with a long history 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.
Best enjoyed rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (David Nicholson 1843); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Knob Creek 9 Year).