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Knob Creek 9 Year vs Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof
Knob Creek 9 Year and Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, rye-forward classic versus an undiluted barrel-strength pour.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Knob Creek 9 Year | Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | 9 years | 13 years +4 yr |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 123.8 proof (61.9% ABV) +24 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$35 – $40 ~$213 less | ~$200 – $300 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Limited |
- Knob Creek 9 Year and Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof do not publish an official mash bill.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.
Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Knob Creek 9 Year Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
nuttiness 7/3 nuttiness: Knob Creek 9 Year 7 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 3 out of 10
sweetness 5/8 sweetness: Knob Creek 9 Year 5 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 8 out of 10
fruit 3/6 fruit: Knob Creek 9 Year 3 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 6 out of 10
heat 5/8 heat: Knob Creek 9 Year 5 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 8 out of 10
spice 6/6 spice: Knob Creek 9 Year 6 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 6 out of 10
oak 8/8 oak: Knob Creek 9 Year 8 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 8 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.
- Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof: Thirteen-year Wild Turkey at full barrel proof, uncut and unfiltered. Cola, molasses and fruit cobbler sit on deep, charred oak, and each release carries its own proof.
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 significantly lower price point.
- Go with Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof if you want an old, uncut Wild Turkey with cola, cobbler and serious oak with an older age statement and with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Knob Creek 9 Year); neat (Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof).