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Knob Creek 9 Year vs Old Forester 86 Proof
Knob Creek 9 Year and Old Forester 86 Proof are cut from similar cloth: two takes on high-rye bourbons, where the real difference is proof (100 vs. 86).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Knob Creek 9 Year | Old Forester 86 Proof |
|---|---|---|
| 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) +14 proof | 86 proof (43% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$35 – $40 | ~$20 – $26 ~$15 less |
- 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 86 Proof
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Knob Creek 9 Year Old Forester 86 Proof
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 8/4 oak: Knob Creek 9 Year 8 out of 10, Old Forester 86 Proof 4 out of 10
nuttiness 7/3 nuttiness: Knob Creek 9 Year 7 out of 10, Old Forester 86 Proof 3 out of 10
fruit 3/5 fruit: Knob Creek 9 Year 3 out of 10, Old Forester 86 Proof 5 out of 10
heat 5/3 heat: Knob Creek 9 Year 5 out of 10, Old Forester 86 Proof 3 out of 10
sweetness 5/6 sweetness: Knob Creek 9 Year 5 out of 10, Old Forester 86 Proof 6 out of 10
spice 6/5 spice: Knob Creek 9 Year 6 out of 10, Old Forester 86 Proof 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Oak is doing most of the differentiating 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 Forester 86 Proof: The entry bottling and the cheapest way to meet the Old Forester banana-and-caramel signature. Thin at 86 proof, but it costs very little and mixes well.
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 more proof behind it.
- Go with Old Forester 86 Proof if you want the Old Forester house character at the lowest possible price.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Knob Creek 9 Year); cocktails, highball, rocks (Old Forester 86 Proof).