Compare
Knob Creek 9 Year vs Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond
Knob Creek 9 Year and Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, rye-forward classic versus an old-guard, wheat-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Knob Creek 9 Year | Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 9 years |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$35 – $40 ~$108 less | ~$110 – $180 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Allocated |
- 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.
Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Knob Creek 9 Year Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 6/2 spice: Knob Creek 9 Year 6 out of 10, Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 2 out of 10
nuttiness 7/3 nuttiness: Knob Creek 9 Year 7 out of 10, Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 3 out of 10
sweetness 5/8 sweetness: Knob Creek 9 Year 5 out of 10, Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 8 out of 10
fruit 3/6 fruit: Knob Creek 9 Year 3 out of 10, Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10
oak 8/7 oak: Knob Creek 9 Year 8 out of 10, Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 7 out of 10
heat 5/4 heat: Knob Creek 9 Year 5 out of 10, Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 4 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.
- Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond: The decanter series, released twice a year at varying ages, and Heaven Hill's most serious wheated statement. Age shows as polished oak and stewed fruit rather than tannin, but you pay handsomely for the bottle.
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 Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond if you want an aged, bonded wheater in a presentation bottle and the price is not the obstacle.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Knob Creek 9 Year); neat (Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond).