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Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon vs Knob Creek 9 Year
Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon and Knob Creek 9 Year sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: a new-wave, wheat-forward craft style versus an old-guard, rye-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon | Knob Creek 9 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 15% wheat, 10% malted barley | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | 4 years | 9 years +5 yr |
| Proof | 87 proof (43.5% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +13 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$40 – $45 | ~$35 – $40 ~$5 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
Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon
Didn't care for this one.
Knob Creek 9 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon Knob Creek 9 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 2/6 spice: Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon 2 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 6 out of 10
oak 4/8 oak: Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon 4 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 8 out of 10
nuttiness 3/7 nuttiness: Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon 3 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 7 out of 10
heat 3/5 heat: Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon 3 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 5 out of 10
sweetness 6/5 sweetness: Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon 6 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 5 out of 10
fruit 4/3 fruit: Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon 4 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The gap between these two is mostly about spice.
- Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon: A farm-to-bottle wheater from northern Illinois. Soft red winter wheat keeps it gentle and bready, with caramel and vanilla up front and very little bite at 87 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 Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon if you want a soft, easygoing wheated bourbon made start to finish on one Midwest farm.
- 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 rocks, highball, cocktails (Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Knob Creek 9 Year).