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Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year vs Knob Creek 9 Year
Put Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year next to Knob Creek 9 Year and you have an uncut, high-rye heavyweight set against a classic, high-rye stalwart.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year | Knob Creek 9 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon, Barrel Proof | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 70% corn, 25% rye, 5% malted barley | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | 7 years | 9 years +2 yr |
| Proof | 115.2 proof (57.6% ABV) +15 proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$60 – $65 | ~$35 – $40 ~$25 less |
- Knob Creek 9 Year does not publish an official mash bill.
- US shelf prices as of 2026-10; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Knob Creek 9 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year Knob Creek 9 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
nuttiness 3/7 nuttiness: Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year 3 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 7 out of 10
heat 8/5 heat: Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year 8 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 5 out of 10
sweetness 7/5 sweetness: Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year 7 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 5 out of 10
fruit 5/3 fruit: Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year 5 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 3 out of 10
spice 7/6 spice: Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year 7 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 6 out of 10
oak 7/8 oak: Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year 7 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 8 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The house grain character is what splits these.
- Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year: Penelope's uncut flagship, now with a seven-year age statement. It is richer and spicier than the Four Grain, with caramel and rye spice carried by a lot of proof.
- 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 Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year if you want a well-priced, seven-year, uncut blend with real depth and spice with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
- 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 (Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Knob Creek 9 Year).