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Knob Creek 9 Year vs Old Grand-Dad 114
Comparing Knob Creek 9 Year and Old Grand-Dad 114 is a closer contest than it looks — both are high-rye bourbons, separated mainly by proof (100 vs. 114).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Knob Creek 9 Year | Old Grand-Dad 114 |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | 63% corn, 27% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Age | 9 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 114 proof (57% ABV) +14 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$35 – $40 | ~$28 – $35 ~$6 less |
- Knob Creek 9 Year and Old Grand-Dad 114 do not publish an official mash bill.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 Grand-Dad 114
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Knob Creek 9 Year Old Grand-Dad 114
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 6/9 spice: Knob Creek 9 Year 6 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad 114 9 out of 10
heat 5/8 heat: Knob Creek 9 Year 5 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad 114 8 out of 10
oak 8/6 oak: Knob Creek 9 Year 8 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad 114 6 out of 10
nuttiness 7/5 nuttiness: Knob Creek 9 Year 7 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad 114 5 out of 10
sweetness 5/6 sweetness: Knob Creek 9 Year 5 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad 114 6 out of 10
fruit 3/4 fruit: Knob Creek 9 Year 3 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad 114 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 Grand-Dad 114: The best proof-per-dollar in American whiskey and it is not especially close. The 27% rye mash at 114 proof is loud, peppery and completely unsubtle, which is exactly why it makes such a good old-fashioned.
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.
- Go with Old Grand-Dad 114 if you want maximum rye spice and proof for under thirty dollars.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Knob Creek 9 Year); neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (Old Grand-Dad 114).