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Knob Creek 9 Year vs Penelope Four Grain
Put Knob Creek 9 Year next to Penelope Four Grain and you have a classic, high-rye stalwart set against a sourced, corn-forward blend.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Knob Creek 9 Year | Penelope Four Grain |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Four-Grain Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | 74% corn, 7% rye, 16% wheat, 3% malted barley |
| Age | 9 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) +20 proof | 80 proof (40% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$35 – $40 | ~$30 – $40 |
- Knob Creek 9 Year and Penelope Four Grain do not publish an official mash bill.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.
Penelope Four Grain
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Knob Creek 9 Year Penelope Four Grain
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 8/3 oak: Knob Creek 9 Year 8 out of 10, Penelope Four Grain 3 out of 10
spice 6/3 spice: Knob Creek 9 Year 6 out of 10, Penelope Four Grain 3 out of 10
heat 5/2 heat: Knob Creek 9 Year 5 out of 10, Penelope Four Grain 2 out of 10
nuttiness 7/4 nuttiness: Knob Creek 9 Year 7 out of 10, Penelope Four Grain 4 out of 10
fruit 3/5 fruit: Knob Creek 9 Year 3 out of 10, Penelope Four Grain 5 out of 10
sweetness 5/6 sweetness: Knob Creek 9 Year 5 out of 10, Penelope Four Grain 6 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.
- Penelope Four Grain: A light, low-proof blend of corn, wheat, rye and barley. Honey, almond and orchard fruit keep it sweet and easy, though it reads young and thin when sipped neat.
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 Penelope Four Grain if you want an easy, light, honeyed bourbon that mixes well.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Knob Creek 9 Year); highball, cocktails (Penelope Four Grain).