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Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year vs Knob Creek 9 Year
Put Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 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 | Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year | Knob Creek 9 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 68% corn, 18% rye, 14% malted barley | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | 4 years | 9 years +5 yr |
| Proof | 125.2 proof (62.6% ABV) +25 proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$65 – $75 | ~$35 – $40 ~$33 less |
| Availability | Limited | Widely available easier to find |
- Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year and Knob Creek 9 Year do not publish an official mash bill.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
Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Knob Creek 9 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year Knob Creek 9 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 4/8 oak: Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year 4 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 8 out of 10
heat 9/5 heat: Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year 9 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/7 nuttiness: Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year 3 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 7 out of 10
fruit 6/3 fruit: Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year 6 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 3 out of 10
sweetness 7/5 sweetness: Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year 7 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 5 out of 10
spice 6/6 spice: Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year 6 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 6 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Oak is doing most of the differentiating here.
- Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year: Willett's own young distillate at full barrel proof. It is loud and sweet, all caramel corn, pastry and citrus, with a lot of heat for a four-year bourbon. Proof varies by batch.
- 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 Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year if you want a young, hot, barrel-proof pour that shows off Willett's own distillate 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 significantly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat (Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Knob Creek 9 Year).