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Knob Creek 9 Year vs Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon
Knob Creek 9 Year and Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, rye-forward classic versus a blender-built, wheat-forward bottling.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Knob Creek 9 Year | Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | 72% corn, 18% wheat, 10% malted barley |
| Age | 9 years +4 yr | 5 years |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$35 – $40 ~$15 less | ~$49 – $55 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Limited |
- Knob Creek 9 Year and Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon do not publish an official mash bill.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.
Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Knob Creek 9 Year Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 5/7 sweetness: Knob Creek 9 Year 5 out of 10, Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon 7 out of 10
oak 8/6 oak: Knob Creek 9 Year 8 out of 10, Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon 6 out of 10
nuttiness 7/5 nuttiness: Knob Creek 9 Year 7 out of 10, Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon 5 out of 10
spice 6/5 spice: Knob Creek 9 Year 6 out of 10, Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon 5 out of 10
fruit 3/3 fruit: Knob Creek 9 Year 3 out of 10, Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon 3 out of 10
heat 5/5 heat: Knob Creek 9 Year 5 out of 10, Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Sweetness is where these two part ways.
- 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.
- Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon: A Notre Dame-licensed wheater given a second, double-oaked barrel. Maple, honey butter and toasted nuts lead, with charred wood and pepper on a long, warm finish.
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 Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon if you want a double-oaked wheater with maple, toasted nuts and charred wood.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Knob Creek 9 Year); neat, old-fashioned (Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon).