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Horse Soldier Barrel Strength vs Knob Creek 9 Year
Put Horse Soldier Barrel Strength next to Knob Creek 9 Year and you have an uncut, high-wheat heavyweight set against a classic, high-rye stalwart.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Horse Soldier Barrel Strength | Knob Creek 9 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon, Barrel Proof | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 70% corn, 20% wheat, 10% malted barley | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 9 years |
| Proof | 111 proof (55.5% ABV) +11 proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$78 – $85 | ~$35 – $40 ~$44 less |
- Horse Soldier Barrel Strength and Knob Creek 9 Year do not publish an official mash bill.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
Horse Soldier Barrel Strength
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Knob Creek 9 Year
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Flavor Profile
Horse Soldier Barrel Strength Knob Creek 9 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
nuttiness 3/7 nuttiness: Horse Soldier Barrel Strength 3 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 7 out of 10
sweetness 7/5 sweetness: Horse Soldier Barrel Strength 7 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 5 out of 10
oak 6/8 oak: Horse Soldier Barrel Strength 6 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 8 out of 10
fruit 5/3 fruit: Horse Soldier Barrel Strength 5 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 3 out of 10
heat 7/5 heat: Horse Soldier Barrel Strength 7 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 5 out of 10
spice 5/6 spice: Horse Soldier Barrel Strength 5 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 6 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The house grain character is what splits these.
- Horse Soldier Barrel Strength: A barrel-strength wheater from the veteran-founded Horse Soldier brand. Brown sugar and toasted oak lead, baking spice and heat follow, and a splash of water pulls out darker fruit.
- 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 Horse Soldier Barrel Strength if you want a big, barrel-strength wheated bourbon with plenty of brown sugar and warmth with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
- Go with Knob Creek 9 Year if you want a classic peanut-and-oak-forward Kentucky bourbon with an older age statement at a significantly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Horse Soldier Barrel Strength); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Knob Creek 9 Year).