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Knob Creek 9 Year vs Willett Pot Still Reserve
Put Knob Creek 9 Year next to Willett Pot Still Reserve and you have a classic, high-rye stalwart set against a contemporary, corn-forward craft build.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Knob Creek 9 Year | Willett Pot Still Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| 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) +6 proof | 94 proof (47% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$35 – $40 ~$15 less | ~$45 – $60 |
- Knob Creek 9 Year and Willett Pot Still Reserve do not publish an official mash bill.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 Pot Still Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Knob Creek 9 Year Willett Pot Still Reserve
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 3/6 fruit: Knob Creek 9 Year 3 out of 10, Willett Pot Still Reserve 6 out of 10
nuttiness 7/4 nuttiness: Knob Creek 9 Year 7 out of 10, Willett Pot Still Reserve 4 out of 10
sweetness 5/7 sweetness: Knob Creek 9 Year 5 out of 10, Willett Pot Still Reserve 7 out of 10
oak 8/6 oak: Knob Creek 9 Year 8 out of 10, Willett Pot Still Reserve 6 out of 10
spice 6/5 spice: Knob Creek 9 Year 6 out of 10, Willett Pot Still Reserve 5 out of 10
heat 5/4 heat: Knob Creek 9 Year 5 out of 10, Willett Pot Still Reserve 4 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The fruit-versus-grain contrast drives this one.
- 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 Pot Still Reserve: Famous first for the pot-still-shaped decanter and second for the whiskey, which is a fair ordering. Pleasant, sweet and fruit-leaning, with a good deal of the price attached to the glass.
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 Willett Pot Still Reserve if you want a distinctive bottle on the shelf and an easy, fruit-forward pour inside it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Knob Creek 9 Year); neat, rocks (Willett Pot Still Reserve).