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Knob Creek 9 Year vs Maker’s Mark 46
Comparing Knob Creek 9 Year and Maker’s Mark 46 reveals a matchup between a traditional, spice-driven Kentucky staple and a traditional, wheated Kentucky staple.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Knob Creek 9 Year | Maker’s Mark 46 |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | 70% corn, 16% wheat, 14% malted barley |
| Age | 9 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) +6 proof | 94 proof (47% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$35 – $40 | ~$38 – $45 |
- 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.
Maker’s Mark 46
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Knob Creek 9 Year Maker’s Mark 46
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
nuttiness 7/3 nuttiness: Knob Creek 9 Year 7 out of 10, Maker’s Mark 46 3 out of 10
sweetness 5/8 sweetness: Knob Creek 9 Year 5 out of 10, Maker’s Mark 46 8 out of 10
spice 6/4 spice: Knob Creek 9 Year 6 out of 10, Maker’s Mark 46 4 out of 10
oak 8/7 oak: Knob Creek 9 Year 8 out of 10, Maker’s Mark 46 7 out of 10
fruit 3/4 fruit: Knob Creek 9 Year 3 out of 10, Maker’s Mark 46 4 out of 10
heat 5/4 heat: Knob Creek 9 Year 5 out of 10, Maker’s Mark 46 4 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Nutty, grain-driven character is the divider.
- 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.
- Maker’s Mark 46: Finished with seared French oak staves inside the barrel, which adds the spice and wood that the standard bottling deliberately lacks. The most useful upgrade in the Maker's range.
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 Maker’s Mark 46 if you want the softness of Maker's Mark with real oak and spice layered over it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Knob Creek 9 Year); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Maker’s Mark 46).