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Knob Creek 9 Year vs Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style
Comparing Knob Creek 9 Year and Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style is a closer contest than it looks — both are high-rye bourbons, separated mainly by proof (100 vs. 115).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Knob Creek 9 Year | Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style |
|---|---|---|
| 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) | 115 proof (57.5% ABV) +15 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$35 – $40 ~$25 less | ~$55 – $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.
Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Knob Creek 9 Year Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
nuttiness 7/3 nuttiness: Knob Creek 9 Year 7 out of 10, Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 3 out of 10
sweetness 5/8 sweetness: Knob Creek 9 Year 5 out of 10, Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 8 out of 10
fruit 3/5 fruit: Knob Creek 9 Year 3 out of 10, Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 5 out of 10
heat 5/7 heat: Knob Creek 9 Year 5 out of 10, Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 7 out of 10
spice 6/7 spice: Knob Creek 9 Year 6 out of 10, Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 7 out of 10
oak 8/7 oak: Knob Creek 9 Year 8 out of 10, Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 7 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 1920 Prohibition Style: Dense and syrupy for its age, with molasses and dark chocolate carrying a serious 115-proof punch. The high rye reads as baking spice rather than sharpness, and the body is unusually thick.
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 1920 Prohibition Style if you want a rich, high-proof, dessert-leaning bourbon with real weight in the glass.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Knob Creek 9 Year); neat, old-fashioned (Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style).