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Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel vs Knob Creek 9 Year
Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel and Knob Creek 9 Year are cut from similar cloth: two takes on high-rye bourbons, where the real difference is price (~$55 – $70 vs. ~$35 – $40).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel | 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 | No age statement | 9 years |
| Proof | 110 proof (55% ABV) +10 proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$55 – $70 | ~$35 – $40 ~$25 less |
| Availability | Limited | Widely available easier to find |
- 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 Single Barrel
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Knob Creek 9 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Knob Creek 9 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
nuttiness 3/7 nuttiness: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 3 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 7 out of 10
spice 8/6 spice: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 8 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 6 out of 10
heat 7/5 heat: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 7 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 5 out of 10
sweetness 6/5 sweetness: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 5 out of 10
fruit 4/3 fruit: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 4 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 3 out of 10
oak 8/8 oak: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 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 Single Barrel: Non-chill-filtered single barrels at 110 proof, and the format that store picks have made a cult of. Concentrated Wild Turkey character with a texture the standard bottlings do not have.
- 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 Single Barrel if you want concentrated Wild Turkey character with single-barrel variation and real texture with more proof 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 (Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Knob Creek 9 Year).