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Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond vs Knob Creek 9 Year
On paper Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond and Knob Creek 9 Year are near neighbours — both high-rye bourbons — so age (4 years vs. 9 years) is what actually decides it.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond | Knob Creek 9 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | 4 years | 9 years +5 yr |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$45 – $55 | ~$35 – $40 ~$13 less |
- 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
Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Knob Creek 9 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond Knob Creek 9 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
nuttiness 3/7 nuttiness: Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 3 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 7 out of 10
sweetness 7/5 sweetness: Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 7 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 5 out of 10
fruit 5/3 fruit: Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 3 out of 10
oak 7/8 oak: Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 7 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 8 out of 10
spice 6/6 spice: Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 6 out of 10
heat 5/5 heat: Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The house grain character is what splits these.
- Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond: The bonded entry in the Whiskey Row series and a noticeable step up in density from the standard 100. More oak and more weight, though the price gap to the 100 proof is harder to justify than the flavour gap suggests.
- 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 Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond if you want a bonded, denser take on the Old Forester profile with more barrel behind it.
- 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.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Knob Creek 9 Year).