Knob Creek Bourbon

Knob Creek is the small-batch flagship of the Beam family — a Kentucky straight bourbon born in 1992 from the late Booker Noe's vision of recreating the bigger, older, more deeply oaked bourbons of the pre-Prohibition era. Where most modern bourbons cut age statements to manage demand, Knob Creek built its reputation on doing the opposite: aging longer, bottling at 100 proof, and keeping the small-batch philosophy intact even as the brand scaled. The result is a lineup that drinks far more "premium" than the price tags suggest, and which has become one of the most reliable bourbon picks for serious drinkers and Old Fashioned bartenders alike.

The lineup at a glance

The brand's everyday-driver expression, Knob Creek 9 Year ($49.99), is the bottle that built the franchise — patiently aged in deeply charred new American oak, bottled at a serious 100 proof, and delivering a long caramel-and-toasted-almond finish that punches well above its sub-$50 price. For travelers, gifters, or first-time samplers, the smaller Knob Creek 9 Year 375mL ($26.99) format is the same juice in a half-size bottle. And for high-volume bars or larger gatherings, the Knob Creek 9 Years Aged 1L ($58.09) is the value play of the entire lineup.

Step up to Knob Creek 12 Year ($79.99) for what most enthusiasts consider the brand's sweet spot — three additional years of aging at the higher rickhouse floors push deeper oak tannin, dark cherry, and a noticeably longer finish, all still bottled at the signature 100 proof. The 12 Year is also the bourbon Knob Creek revived in 2020 after pulling its age statement in 2017, signaling renewed confidence in supply.

For a more conversational pour, Knob Creek Smoked Maple ($49.99) is the brand's flavored bottling — real maple syrup, applewood smoke, and the same 9-year base bourbon at 80 proof. It works in cocktails (a smoked-maple Old Fashioned is essentially built-in), drinks easily neat for guests new to bourbon, and pairs surprisingly well with espresso and cigars.

Why bartenders reach for it

The 100-proof bottling is the practical reason Knob Creek 9 Year is a bartender favorite — at 50% ABV it carries through ice and citrus without disappearing, which is exactly what an Old Fashioned, Boulevardier, or Manhattan needs. The high-rye-leaning Beam family mash bill (Knob Creek shares its mash with Jim Beam White Label and Booker's) gives it spice underneath the sweetness, balancing well against orange peel, sweet vermouth, or maple syrup. And the deeper-than-typical char gives every cocktail a slight smoky backbone you don't get from softer wheated bourbons.

How it fits in the Beam family

Knob Creek sits between the entry-level Jim Beam expressions and the cult-allocated Booker's series in the Beam Suntory portfolio — same mash bill, different aging philosophies. If you've enjoyed a Booker's batch but don't want to chase or pay for cask-strength every night, Knob Creek 9 Year and 12 Year are the tamer-proof versions of the same DNA. Conversely, if Knob Creek 12 Year hooks you, the move up the ladder is to one of the rotating Booker's batches in our allocated & rare rotation.

Recommended pairings

Knob Creek 9 Year is built for an Old Fashioned, a perfect Manhattan, or a slow neat pour with a single ice cube. The 12 Year rewards a clean Glencairn and twenty minutes of air. The Smoked Maple is the surprising hit at brunch — try it as the spirit base of a maple-bacon Old Fashioned with a strip of crispy bacon as the garnish. For a Kentucky Derby Day weekend pour, see our 2026 Single Barrel vs. Small Batch Guide — Knob Creek 9 Year is profiled in detail there as one of the modern small-batch benchmarks.

Shop Knob Creek and beyond

Browse the full bourbon collection for Knob Creek's 700+ Kentucky neighbors, our best-sellers for the bottles other Knob Creek drinkers buy most often, and whiskey for the broader American category if you're branching into rye or Tennessee. Most Knob Creek orders to qualifying states ship same- or next-day if placed by 2 PM ET.