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Evan Williams Black Label vs Knob Creek 9 Year
Put Evan Williams Black Label next to Knob Creek 9 Year and you have a classic, corn-forward stalwart set against a classic, high-rye stalwart.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Evan Williams Black Label | 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 | 86 proof (43% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +14 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$14 – $18 ~$22 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
Evan Williams Black Label
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Knob Creek 9 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Evan Williams Black Label Knob Creek 9 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 5/8 oak: Evan Williams Black Label 5 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 8 out of 10
nuttiness 4/7 nuttiness: Evan Williams Black Label 4 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 7 out of 10
spice 4/6 spice: Evan Williams Black Label 4 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 6 out of 10
heat 3/5 heat: Evan Williams Black Label 3 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 5 out of 10
sweetness 6/5 sweetness: Evan Williams Black Label 6 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 5 out of 10
fruit 4/3 fruit: Evan Williams Black Label 4 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Oak is doing most of the differentiating here.
- Evan Williams Black Label: The everyday black label, and a perfectly competent well bourbon. Softer and sweeter than the bonded version, with less to say but nothing objectionable.
- 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 Evan Williams Black Label if you want a dependable, inexpensive mixing bourbon and nothing more complicated than that at a 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 cocktails, highball, rocks (Evan Williams Black Label); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Knob Creek 9 Year).