Compare
Russell’s Reserve 15 Year vs Knob Creek 9 Year
Put Russell’s Reserve 15 Year next to Knob Creek 9 Year and you have a full-proof, unfiltered heavyweight set against a classic, high-rye stalwart.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Russell’s Reserve 15 Year | Knob Creek 9 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | 15 years +6 yr | 9 years |
| Proof | 117.2 proof (58.6% ABV) +17 proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$250 – $400 | ~$35 – $40 ~$288 less |
| Availability | Allocated | Widely available easier to find |
- Russell’s Reserve 15 Year and Knob Creek 9 Year do not publish an official mash bill.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
Russell’s Reserve 15 Year
One of my favorites.
Knob Creek 9 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Russell’s Reserve 15 Year Knob Creek 9 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
nuttiness 3/7 nuttiness: Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 3 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 7 out of 10
fruit 6/3 fruit: Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 6 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 3 out of 10
sweetness 7/5 sweetness: Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 7 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 5 out of 10
heat 7/5 heat: Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 7 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 5 out of 10
oak 9/8 oak: Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 9 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 8 out of 10
spice 6/6 spice: Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 6 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 6 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The house grain character is what splits these.
- Russell’s Reserve 15 Year: The oldest regular Russell's Reserve, at barrel proof. Fifteen years in Camp Nelson rickhouses push it toward old oak, leather and dried fruit over the usual Turkey spice.
- 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 15 Year if you want a very old, oak-heavy Wild Turkey for slow sipping with more proof behind it and with an older age statement.
- Go with Knob Creek 9 Year if you want a classic peanut-and-oak-forward Kentucky bourbon with an older age statement at a significantly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat (Russell’s Reserve 15 Year); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Knob Creek 9 Year).