Distillery: Jim Beam
Proof: 100
Age: 9 years
Mashbill: 75% Corn, 13% Rye, 12% Malted Barley
Price: $30-$35
Company
Since 1795, seven generations of the Beam family have been involved in making whiskey. Along with the iconic Jim Beam line, the distillery is also responsible for brands like Knob Creek, Baker’s, Basil Hayden’s, and Bookers.
Production
According to Beam, all batches are aged in “maximum char” barrels to get as much sweetness out of the oak as possible. The 9 Year statement was removed in 2016 and then added back in 2020.
Nose – 91/100
Rich nutty oak with light touches of caramel and vanilla. Very pleasant.
Palate – 90/100
Oak forward with peppercorn followed by a touch of light caramel and vanilla. Close to what the nose suggests this might taste like. Not incredibly bold, but also not super sweet since the oak and spice take center stage.
Finish – 92/100
The finish is the best part of Knob Creek 9 Year. It’s rich and lively with oak, leather, black pepper, and a touch of vanilla that lingers. Very well-balanced.
Value – 91/100
You can’t go wrong with grabbing a bottle of Knob Creek Small Batch 9 Year. It’s gone up a little more in price (sometimes close to $35) than I’m comfortable with, but you aren’t going to find many other 9-year-old bourbons in this price range that are worth buying.
It’s not particularly amazing in any one category, but it’s a great all-around bourbon most enthusiasts will enjoy (though the oak-forward palate isn’t for everyone).
Verdict – 91/100
We score each bourbon based on nose, palate, finish, and value.
Scoring System:
- Platinum – 95+
- Gold – 90 – 94
- Silver – 80 – 89
- Bronze – <80
Hunter Branch is the Founder and Director of Editorial for Bourbon Inspector. He has been writing about and professionally reviewing bourbon since 2020 (and has been drinking it for much longer). He’s been able to interview big names in the bourbon industry like Trey Zoeller from Jefferson’s Bourbon and his work has been featured in publications like TastingTable, Mashed, and more.