Knob Creek 9 Year vs Michter’s Bourbon: Head to Head

Discover the differences between Knob Creek 9 Year vs Michter’s US 1 in this in-depth comparison and decide which bourbon is better for You!

Knob Creek 9 Year

Nose	Cherry, vanilla, caramel, rye spice, oak
Palate	Vanilla, oak, cherry, chocolate, peanuts
Finish	Long, vanilla, banana, baking spices
Alcohol content	100 proof (50% ABV)
How to drink	Add water, rocks
Similar to	Jack Daniel’s, Jim Beam, Four Roses

Nose brings cherry up-front, followed by vanilla, caramel, oak and and a spicy note from the rye.

On the palate the Knob Creek offers a creamy feel, is pleasantly warm with more vanilla and oak, along chocolate and the peanut hint that you find in every whiskey crafted at the Jim Beam Distillery.

The finish is long and warming and supremely drinkable at 100 proof with plento appreciate.

Knob Creek is smooth, rounded and tasty, incredibly good without any off-notes, with a buttery body. This bourbon does not drink as a 100 proof as it has no harshness or bad bite, it goes down easy.

The best way of drinking the Knob Creek is neat or straight. If you want to make it more tasty add a drop of of water releasing sweet notes making it more enjoyable.

Learn more about this brand by reading my post: Discover the Best Knob Creek Bottle where I rank every release.

There are a few facts worth knowing about Knob Creek:

• It was launched in 1992 as part of Jim Beam Small Batch Collection showing a 9 year age statement.

• The age statement was removed in 2016 but made a comeback in April 2020.

• Knob Creek ages for 9 years in white oak barrels with the maximum possible char.

• The mash bill is made from 75% corn, 13% rye and 12% malted barley.

• Knob Creek Bourbon was created by Booker Noe, who after joining Jim Beam in 1950 was promoted to Master Distiller just ten years later.

• Knob Creek belongs to Beam Suntory who currently hold other brands such as Booker’s, Jim Beam, Maker’s Mark among several others.

Michter’s US 1 Kentucky Straight Bourbon

Nose	Cherry, caramel, baking spice, oak
Palate	Plum, maple honey, baking spice, charred oak
Finish	Medium-length, butterscotch, oak spice
Alcohol content	91.4 proof (45.7% ABV)
How to drink	Neat
Similar to	Michter’s Rye, Four Roses Single Barrel

The nose is sweet and pleasant, with a strong cherry note, followed by caramel, baking spice and burnt oak.

On the palate, Michter’s has a nice mouthfeel, with a good creamy body.

I get a sweet taste with plum up-front, followed by maple honey followed by baking spice and a bit of charred oak astringency.

The finish has a decent length, with very little to no warmth, rich in butterscotch and just a tad of oak spice.

Michter’s drinks nicely. There is something about its flavor that reminds me of Dr. Pepper but this is a super easy drinking bourbon.

No warmth or complicated notes. Just a sweet easy drinker perfect for an “everyday whiskey”.

Something that makes Michter’s stand out from the rest is that this is a real Small Batch Bourbon having been made from a maximum of 20 barrels.

Some distillers claim to be Small Batch while using 200 barrels!!!

There are a few facts worth knowing about Michter’s US 1:

• Michter’s does not provide an age statement.

• The mash bill is comprised of 79% corn, 11% rye, 10% malted barley.

• Michter’s US 1 is crafted since 2015 at the Michter’s Distillery in Louisville, KY.

• Michter’s was originally distilled at The Pennsylvania Michter’s Distillery which went bankrupt in 1989.

• The brand was acquired by Joe Magliocco for $245.

Knob Creek 9 Year vs Michter’s US 1: Price comparison

Prices are approximate and stated in USD:

Whiskey	Price
Knob Creek 9 Year	$38
Michter’s US 1	$50

Knob Creek 9 Year vs Michter’s US 1: Which is Better?

Michter’s is a safer bet

• Michter’s is a sweet and super easy drinking bourbon. Neither complex nor particularly interesting, a little pricey for a plain vanilla bourbon, but makes one the easiest sipping bourbons.

• Knob Creek 9 is richer, creamier and more flavorful. It has some warmth, as you might expect from something bottled at 100 proof, but supremely drinkable, with a drop or two of water enough to tune it down a bit.

• Personally, I prefer the Knob Creek as I’m fond of a bit or warmth in my drinks but Michter’s is clearly a safer bet.