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Knob Creek 9 Year vs Old Forester 1870 Original Batch
Knob Creek 9 Year and Old Forester 1870 Original Batch sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, rye-forward classic versus an old-guard, rye-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Knob Creek 9 Year | Old Forester 1870 Original Batch |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Age | 9 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) +10 proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$35 – $40 ~$13 less | ~$45 – $55 |
- 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 Forester 1870 Original Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Knob Creek 9 Year Old Forester 1870 Original Batch
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
nuttiness 7/2 nuttiness: Knob Creek 9 Year 7 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 2 out of 10
oak 8/5 oak: Knob Creek 9 Year 8 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 5 out of 10
fruit 3/6 fruit: Knob Creek 9 Year 3 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 6 out of 10
sweetness 5/7 sweetness: Knob Creek 9 Year 5 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 7 out of 10
spice 6/4 spice: Knob Creek 9 Year 6 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 4 out of 10
heat 5/3 heat: Knob Creek 9 Year 5 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 3 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.
- Old Forester 1870 Original Batch: The first bottle in Old Forester's Whiskey Row Series, recreating the founder's habit of blending barrels from three warehouses. It is the lightest of the series, caramel sweet and easy.
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 Old Forester 1870 Original Batch if you want the gentlest, most easygoing pour in the Whiskey Row Series.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Knob Creek 9 Year); neat, rocks, highball (Old Forester 1870 Original Batch).