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Knob Creek 9 Year vs New Riff 8 Year
On paper Knob Creek 9 Year and New Riff 8 Year are near neighbours — both high-rye bourbons — so price (~$35 – $40 vs. ~$65 – $70) is what actually decides it.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Knob Creek 9 Year | New Riff 8 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | 65% corn, 30% rye, 5% malted barley |
| Age | 9 years +1 yr | 8 years |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$35 – $40 ~$30 less | ~$65 – $70 |
- 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.
New Riff 8 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Knob Creek 9 Year New Riff 8 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
nuttiness 7/3 nuttiness: Knob Creek 9 Year 7 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 3 out of 10
spice 6/8 spice: Knob Creek 9 Year 6 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 8 out of 10
fruit 3/5 fruit: Knob Creek 9 Year 3 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 5 out of 10
sweetness 5/6 sweetness: Knob Creek 9 Year 5 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 6 out of 10
oak 8/7 oak: Knob Creek 9 Year 8 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 7 out of 10
heat 5/5 heat: Knob Creek 9 Year 5 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The house grain character is what splits these.
- 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.
- New Riff 8 Year: The older, deeper version of New Riff's bonded bourbon. Same 30% rye recipe, but eight years add richer oak and darker sugar while keeping the spice front and center.
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 New Riff 8 Year if you want an older, deeper take on New Riff's spicy high-rye recipe with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Knob Creek 9 Year); neat, old-fashioned (New Riff 8 Year).