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Knob Creek 9 Year vs Larceny Small Batch
Comparing Knob Creek 9 Year and Larceny Small Batch reveals a matchup between a traditional, spice-driven Kentucky staple and a traditional, wheated Kentucky staple.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Knob Creek 9 Year | Larceny Small Batch |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | 68% corn, 20% wheat, 12% malted barley |
| Age | 9 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) +8 proof | 92 proof (46% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$35 – $40 | ~$25 – $32 ~$9 less |
- Knob Creek 9 Year does 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.
Larceny Small Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Knob Creek 9 Year Larceny Small Batch
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 6/2 spice: Knob Creek 9 Year 6 out of 10, Larceny Small Batch 2 out of 10
oak 8/4 oak: Knob Creek 9 Year 8 out of 10, Larceny Small Batch 4 out of 10
nuttiness 7/3 nuttiness: Knob Creek 9 Year 7 out of 10, Larceny Small Batch 3 out of 10
sweetness 5/8 sweetness: Knob Creek 9 Year 5 out of 10, Larceny Small Batch 8 out of 10
fruit 3/5 fruit: Knob Creek 9 Year 3 out of 10, Larceny Small Batch 5 out of 10
heat 5/3 heat: Knob Creek 9 Year 5 out of 10, Larceny Small Batch 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Rye spice is the dividing line here.
- 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.
- Larceny Small Batch: Heaven Hill's everyday wheater and the most affordable way into the style. Soft honey and butterscotch with almost no spice, and a texture that makes the low price hard to argue with.
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 with slightly more proof behind it.
- Go with Larceny Small Batch if you want an easy, sweet, genuinely inexpensive wheated bourbon at a slightly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Knob Creek 9 Year); neat, rocks, cocktails (Larceny Small Batch).