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Knob Creek 9 Year vs Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery Series #13
Put Knob Creek 9 Year next to Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery Series #13 and you have a classic, high-rye stalwart set against a blender-built, corn-forward bottling.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Knob Creek 9 Year | Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery Series #13 |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | 9 years +1 yr | 8 years |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 110.8 proof (55.4% ABV) +11 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$35 – $40 ~$103 less | ~$130 – $150 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Limited |
- Knob Creek 9 Year and Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery Series #13 do not publish an official mash bill.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
Knob Creek 9 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery Series #13
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Knob Creek 9 Year Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery Series #13
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 3/8 fruit: Knob Creek 9 Year 3 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery Series #13 8 out of 10
nuttiness 7/3 nuttiness: Knob Creek 9 Year 7 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery Series #13 3 out of 10
sweetness 5/8 sweetness: Knob Creek 9 Year 5 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery Series #13 8 out of 10
oak 8/7 oak: Knob Creek 9 Year 8 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery Series #13 7 out of 10
heat 5/6 heat: Knob Creek 9 Year 5 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery Series #13 6 out of 10
spice 6/6 spice: Knob Creek 9 Year 6 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery Series #13 6 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Fruit character is what sets these apart.
- 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.
- Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery Series #13: Bardstown's annual blend of older sourced bourbons. Rich and dessert-like, with creme brulee, toffee and dark fruit over peppery oak.
Which One Should You Choose?
- 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.
- Go with Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery Series #13 if you want a rich, dessert-like annual blend of older Kentucky bourbons with more proof behind it and with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Knob Creek 9 Year); neat (Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery Series #13).