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Russell’s Reserve 10 Year vs Knob Creek 9 Year
Comparing Russell’s Reserve 10 Year and Knob Creek 9 Year is a closer contest than it looks — both are high-rye bourbons, separated mainly by proof (90 vs. 100).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Russell’s Reserve 10 Year | Knob Creek 9 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | 10 years +1 yr | 9 years |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +10 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$40 – $50 | ~$35 – $40 ~$8 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
Russell’s Reserve 10 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Knob Creek 9 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Russell’s Reserve 10 Year Knob Creek 9 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
nuttiness 3/7 nuttiness: Russell’s Reserve 10 Year 3 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 7 out of 10
sweetness 6/5 sweetness: Russell’s Reserve 10 Year 6 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 5 out of 10
fruit 4/3 fruit: Russell’s Reserve 10 Year 4 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 3 out of 10
heat 4/5 heat: Russell’s Reserve 10 Year 4 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 5 out of 10
spice 6/6 spice: Russell’s Reserve 10 Year 6 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 6 out of 10
oak 8/8 oak: Russell’s Reserve 10 Year 8 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 8 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Nutty, grain-driven character is the divider.
- Russell’s Reserve 10 Year: Ten years of Wild Turkey at a restrained 90 proof, which trades the 101's punch for polish. More oak and more composure, and one of the better age-stated bottles at its price.
- 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 Russell’s Reserve 10 Year if you want an age-stated, oak-forward Wild Turkey with the volume turned down.
- Go with Knob Creek 9 Year if you want a classic peanut-and-oak-forward Kentucky bourbon with an older age statement at a slightly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Russell’s Reserve 10 Year); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Knob Creek 9 Year).