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Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style vs Knob Creek 9 Year
Comparing Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style and Knob Creek 9 Year is a closer contest than it looks — both are high-rye bourbons, separated mainly by proof (115 vs. 100).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style | 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 | No age statement | 9 years |
| Proof | 115 proof (57.5% ABV) +15 proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$55 – $70 | ~$35 – $40 ~$25 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 1920 Prohibition Style
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Knob Creek 9 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style Knob Creek 9 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
nuttiness 3/7 nuttiness: Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 3 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 7 out of 10
sweetness 8/5 sweetness: Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 8 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 5 out of 10
fruit 5/3 fruit: Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 5 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 3 out of 10
heat 7/5 heat: Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 7 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 5 out of 10
spice 7/6 spice: Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 7 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 6 out of 10
oak 7/8 oak: Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 7 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 8 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The house grain character is what splits these.
- Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style: Dense and syrupy for its age, with molasses and dark chocolate carrying a serious 115-proof punch. The high rye reads as baking spice rather than sharpness, and the body is unusually thick.
- 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 1920 Prohibition Style if you want a rich, high-proof, dessert-leaning bourbon with real weight in the glass.
- 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 1920 Prohibition Style); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Knob Creek 9 Year).