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Knob Creek 9 Year vs Russell’s Reserve 15 Year
Put Knob Creek 9 Year next to Russell’s Reserve 15 Year and you have a classic, high-rye stalwart set against a full-proof, unfiltered heavyweight.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Knob Creek 9 Year | Russell’s Reserve 15 Year |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 15 years +6 yr |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 117.2 proof (58.6% ABV) +17 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$35 – $40 ~$288 less | ~$250 – $400 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Allocated |
- Knob Creek 9 Year and Russell’s Reserve 15 Year do not publish an official mash bill.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 15 Year
One of my favorites.
Flavor Profile
Knob Creek 9 Year Russell’s Reserve 15 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
nuttiness 7/3 nuttiness: Knob Creek 9 Year 7 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 3 out of 10
fruit 3/6 fruit: Knob Creek 9 Year 3 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 6 out of 10
sweetness 5/7 sweetness: Knob Creek 9 Year 5 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 7 out of 10
heat 5/7 heat: Knob Creek 9 Year 5 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 7 out of 10
oak 8/9 oak: Knob Creek 9 Year 8 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 9 out of 10
spice 6/6 spice: Knob Creek 9 Year 6 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 6 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 15 Year: The oldest regular Russell's Reserve, at barrel proof. Fifteen years in Camp Nelson rickhouses push it toward old oak, leather and dried fruit over the usual Turkey spice.
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 15 Year if you want a very old, oak-heavy Wild Turkey for slow sipping with more proof behind it and with an older age statement.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Knob Creek 9 Year); neat (Russell’s Reserve 15 Year).