Compare
Knob Creek 9 Year vs Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year
Put Knob Creek 9 Year next to Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year and you have a classic, high-rye stalwart set against a full-proof, unfiltered heavyweight.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Knob Creek 9 Year | Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | 68% corn, 18% rye, 14% malted barley |
| Age | 9 years +5 yr | 4 years |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 125.2 proof (62.6% ABV) +25 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$35 – $40 ~$33 less | ~$65 – $75 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Limited |
- Knob Creek 9 Year and Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year do not publish an official mash bill.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.
Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Knob Creek 9 Year Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 8/4 oak: Knob Creek 9 Year 8 out of 10, Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year 4 out of 10
heat 5/9 heat: Knob Creek 9 Year 5 out of 10, Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year 9 out of 10
nuttiness 7/3 nuttiness: Knob Creek 9 Year 7 out of 10, Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year 3 out of 10
fruit 3/6 fruit: Knob Creek 9 Year 3 out of 10, Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year 6 out of 10
sweetness 5/7 sweetness: Knob Creek 9 Year 5 out of 10, Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year 7 out of 10
spice 6/6 spice: Knob Creek 9 Year 6 out of 10, Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year 6 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Oak is doing most of the differentiating here.
- 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.
- Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year: Willett's own young distillate at full barrel proof. It is loud and sweet, all caramel corn, pastry and citrus, with a lot of heat for a four-year bourbon. Proof varies by 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 significantly lower price point.
- Go with Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year if you want a young, hot, barrel-proof pour that shows off Willett's own distillate with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Knob Creek 9 Year); neat (Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year).