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Maker’s Mark 46 vs Knob Creek 9 Year
Comparing Maker’s Mark 46 and Knob Creek 9 Year reveals a matchup between a traditional, wheated Kentucky staple and a traditional, spice-driven Kentucky staple.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Maker’s Mark 46 | Knob Creek 9 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 70% corn, 16% wheat, 14% malted barley | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 9 years |
| Proof | 94 proof (47% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +6 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$38 – $45 | ~$35 – $40 |
- Knob Creek 9 Year does 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
Maker’s Mark 46
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Knob Creek 9 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Maker’s Mark 46 Knob Creek 9 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
nuttiness 3/7 nuttiness: Maker’s Mark 46 3 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 7 out of 10
sweetness 8/5 sweetness: Maker’s Mark 46 8 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 5 out of 10
spice 4/6 spice: Maker’s Mark 46 4 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 6 out of 10
oak 7/8 oak: Maker’s Mark 46 7 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 8 out of 10
fruit 4/3 fruit: Maker’s Mark 46 4 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 3 out of 10
heat 4/5 heat: Maker’s Mark 46 4 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Nutty, grain-driven character is the divider.
- Maker’s Mark 46: Finished with seared French oak staves inside the barrel, which adds the spice and wood that the standard bottling deliberately lacks. The most useful upgrade in the Maker's range.
- 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.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Maker’s Mark 46 if you want the softness of Maker's Mark with real oak and spice layered over it.
- Go with Knob Creek 9 Year if you want a classic peanut-and-oak-forward Kentucky bourbon with an older age statement with slightly more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Maker’s Mark 46); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Knob Creek 9 Year).