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Knob Creek 9 Year vs Rowan's Creek
Comparing Knob Creek 9 Year and Rowan's Creek reveals a matchup between a traditional, spice-driven Kentucky staple and a traditional, even-keeled Kentucky staple.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Knob Creek 9 Year | Rowan's Creek |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | 9 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 100.1 proof (50.0% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$35 – $40 ~$8 less | ~$40 – $50 |
- Knob Creek 9 Year and Rowan's Creek do not publish an official mash bill.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.
Rowan's Creek
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Knob Creek 9 Year Rowan's Creek
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
nuttiness 7/2 nuttiness: Knob Creek 9 Year 7 out of 10, Rowan's Creek 2 out of 10
oak 8/4 oak: Knob Creek 9 Year 8 out of 10, Rowan's Creek 4 out of 10
sweetness 5/6 sweetness: Knob Creek 9 Year 5 out of 10, Rowan's Creek 6 out of 10
spice 6/7 spice: Knob Creek 9 Year 6 out of 10, Rowan's Creek 7 out of 10
fruit 3/4 fruit: Knob Creek 9 Year 3 out of 10, Rowan's Creek 4 out of 10
heat 5/5 heat: Knob Creek 9 Year 5 out of 10, Rowan's Creek 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.
- Rowan's Creek: A small-batch Willett bottling that tastes rye-forward and herbal. Honey and caramel sit under mint, hay and warm spice, with a peppermint lift on the 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 slightly lower price point.
- Go with Rowan's Creek if you want an herbal, minty, rye-forward Willett bottling.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Knob Creek 9 Year); neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (Rowan's Creek).