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Woodford Reserve vs Knob Creek 9 Year
Woodford Reserve and Knob Creek 9 Year are cut from similar cloth: two takes on high-rye bourbons, where the real difference is proof (90.4 vs. 100).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Woodford Reserve | Knob Creek 9 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 9 years |
| Proof | 90.4 proof (45.2% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +10 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$35 – $42 | ~$35 – $40 |
- 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
Woodford Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Knob Creek 9 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Woodford Reserve Knob Creek 9 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
nuttiness 3/7 nuttiness: Woodford Reserve 3 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 7 out of 10
fruit 6/3 fruit: Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 3 out of 10
oak 6/8 oak: Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 8 out of 10
sweetness 6/5 sweetness: Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 5 out of 10
heat 4/5 heat: Woodford Reserve 4 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 5 out of 10
spice 6/6 spice: Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10, Knob Creek 9 Year 6 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The house grain character is what splits these.
- Woodford Reserve: The most widely poured premium bourbon in America, and a genuinely well-made one. Dried fruit and cocoa over a balanced 18% rye mash, finished smooth enough to please almost anyone.
- 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 Woodford Reserve if you want a polished, widely available crowd-pleaser that never puts a foot wrong.
- Go with Knob Creek 9 Year if you want a classic peanut-and-oak-forward Kentucky bourbon with an older age statement with slightly more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Woodford Reserve); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Knob Creek 9 Year).