Compare
Knob Creek 9 Year vs Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon
Knob Creek 9 Year and Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, rye-forward classic versus a blender-built, classically built bottling.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Knob Creek 9 Year | Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | 9 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$35 – $40 ~$55 less | ~$85 – $100 |
- Knob Creek 9 Year and Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon do not publish an official mash bill.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.
Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Knob Creek 9 Year Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 3/8 fruit: Knob Creek 9 Year 3 out of 10, Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 8 out of 10
sweetness 5/8 sweetness: Knob Creek 9 Year 5 out of 10, Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 8 out of 10
oak 8/6 oak: Knob Creek 9 Year 8 out of 10, Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 6 out of 10
nuttiness 7/5 nuttiness: Knob Creek 9 Year 7 out of 10, Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 5 out of 10
spice 6/5 spice: Knob Creek 9 Year 6 out of 10, Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 5 out of 10
heat 5/5 heat: Knob Creek 9 Year 5 out of 10, Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 5 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.
- 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.
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 Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon if you want a sherry-and-Cognac-finished bourbon full of dried fruit and dark chocolate.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Knob Creek 9 Year); neat (Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon).