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Knob Creek 9 Year vs Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve
Comparing Knob Creek 9 Year and Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve reveals a matchup between a traditional, spice-driven Kentucky staple and a traditional, spice-driven Kentucky staple.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Knob Creek 9 Year | Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | 9 years | 9 years |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 120 proof (60% ABV) +20 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$35 – $40 ~$13 less | ~$45 – $55 |
- Knob Creek 9 Year and Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve do not publish an official mash bill.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.
Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Knob Creek 9 Year Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 5/8 heat: Knob Creek 9 Year 5 out of 10, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 8 out of 10
sweetness 5/6 sweetness: Knob Creek 9 Year 5 out of 10, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 6 out of 10
spice 6/7 spice: Knob Creek 9 Year 6 out of 10, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 7 out of 10
oak 8/8 oak: Knob Creek 9 Year 8 out of 10, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 8 out of 10
fruit 3/3 fruit: Knob Creek 9 Year 3 out of 10, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 3 out of 10
nuttiness 7/7 nuttiness: Knob Creek 9 Year 7 out of 10, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 7 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Proof and heat dominate the difference.
- 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.
- Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve: The same nine-year Knob Creek juice bottled from a single barrel at 120 proof, and the extra strength suits it. Everything the standard bottling does, turned up — with the barrel-to-barrel variation that comes with the format.
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 lower price point.
- Go with Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve if you want the Beam profile at serious proof for well under what most barrel-strength bourbons cost.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Knob Creek 9 Year); neat, old-fashioned (Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve).