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Stellum Bourbon vs Knob Creek 9 Year
Stellum Bourbon and Knob Creek 9 Year sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an undiluted barrel-strength pour versus an old-guard, rye-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Stellum Bourbon | Knob Creek 9 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 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 | ~$45 – $55 | ~$35 – $40 ~$13 less |
- Stellum Bourbon and Knob Creek 9 Year do not publish an official mash bill.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
Stellum Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Knob Creek 9 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Stellum Bourbon Knob Creek 9 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
nuttiness 3/7 nuttiness: Stellum Bourbon 3 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 7 out of 10
oak 6/8 oak: Stellum Bourbon 6 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 8 out of 10
heat 7/5 heat: Stellum Bourbon 7 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 5 out of 10
sweetness 6/5 sweetness: Stellum Bourbon 6 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 5 out of 10
spice 7/6 spice: Stellum Bourbon 7 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 6 out of 10
fruit 4/3 fruit: Stellum Bourbon 4 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Nutty, grain-driven character is the divider.
- Stellum Bourbon: Barrell's lower-priced, cask-strength line. It drinks gentler than its proof, with vanilla and caramel on top of cinnamon, clove and a long, spicy finish.
- 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 Stellum Bourbon if you want a cask-strength, multi-state blend that drinks easier than its proof 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 (Stellum Bourbon); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Knob Creek 9 Year).