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Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon vs Knob Creek 9 Year
Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon and Knob Creek 9 Year sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: a sourced, classically built blend versus an old-guard, rye-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon | Knob Creek 9 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional 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 | ~$85 – $100 | ~$35 – $40 ~$55 less |
- Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon and Knob Creek 9 Year do not publish an official mash bill.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
Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Knob Creek 9 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon Knob Creek 9 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 8/3 fruit: Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 8 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 3 out of 10
sweetness 8/5 sweetness: Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 8 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 5 out of 10
oak 6/8 oak: Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 6 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 8 out of 10
nuttiness 5/7 nuttiness: Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 5 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 7 out of 10
spice 5/6 spice: Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 5 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 6 out of 10
heat 5/5 heat: Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 5 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Fruit character is what sets these apart.
- Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon: Finished in Oloroso sherry, Pedro Ximenez sherry and Cognac casks. The casks layer dried fruit, orange and dark chocolate over the bourbon and leave a long, clove-spiced finish.
- 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 Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon if you want a sherry-and-Cognac-finished bourbon full of dried fruit and dark chocolate.
- 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 (Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Knob Creek 9 Year).