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Knob Creek 9 Year vs Penelope Toasted Series
Knob Creek 9 Year and Penelope Toasted Series are cut from similar cloth: two takes on high-rye bourbons, where the real difference is price (~$35 – $40 vs. ~$55 – $70).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Knob Creek 9 Year | Penelope Toasted Series |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | 75% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley |
| Age | 9 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| 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.
Penelope Toasted Series
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Knob Creek 9 Year Penelope Toasted Series
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
nuttiness 7/3 nuttiness: Knob Creek 9 Year 7 out of 10, Penelope Toasted Series 3 out of 10
sweetness 5/7 sweetness: Knob Creek 9 Year 5 out of 10, Penelope Toasted Series 7 out of 10
spice 6/5 spice: Knob Creek 9 Year 6 out of 10, Penelope Toasted Series 5 out of 10
oak 8/7 oak: Knob Creek 9 Year 8 out of 10, Penelope Toasted Series 7 out of 10
fruit 3/4 fruit: Knob Creek 9 Year 3 out of 10, Penelope Toasted Series 4 out of 10
heat 5/5 heat: Knob Creek 9 Year 5 out of 10, Penelope Toasted Series 5 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.
- Penelope Toasted Series: Finished in a second, freshly toasted barrel, which pushes it toward toffee, roasted coffee and darker oak. The toast level changes from batch to batch.
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 Penelope Toasted Series if you want a toasty, coffee-and-toffee bourbon from a second-barrel finish with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Knob Creek 9 Year); neat, old-fashioned (Penelope Toasted Series).