Knob Creek

What Knob Creek does

Knob Creek is a premium bourbon and rye whiskey brand founded in 1992 by Booker Noe as part of the James B. Beam Distilling Company's Small Batch Bourbon Collection. Operating from a distillery and headquarters in Clermont, Kentucky, the brand produces whiskeys using pre-Prohibition-style methods, including distillation at lower proof, aging in white oak barrels with a level four char, and patient aging in Kentucky rack houses. Knob Creek commits to a minimum 9-year aging standard and offers a portfolio spanning 7-year, 9-year, 12-year, 18-year, and 21-year bourbon expressions; 7-year and 10-year rye whiskeys; a Bourbon x Rye blended whiskey; single barrel and cask strength products; and a Smoked Maple flavored bourbon, with recent limited releases such as the Blender's Edition 01 series (March 2026) and 21 Year Bourbon (November 2025).

The brand generates revenue through wholesale and retail whiskey sales priced from approximately $44.99 SRP for limited editions to higher premiums for aged and cask-strength expressions. Distribution occurs through national retail chains, liquor stores, and the Single Barrel Experience program, which enables retailers to claim personalized barrels directly from the Clermont distillery. Knob Creek is a private brand operating under Suntory Global Spirits, the spirits division of Suntory Holdings, following the 2014 acquisition of Beam Inc. for approximately $16 billion. The brand serves whiskey enthusiasts seeking full-flavored bourbon and rye, as well as retailers participating in the single barrel program, with marketing channels spanning official website content, social media (Instagram @KnobCreek), earned media, and celebrity partnerships including Eli Manning and The Jack Harlow Foundation.

Name

Knob Creek

Legal name

Knob Creek Distilling Company

Website

https://knobcreek.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Knob Creek is a premium bourbon and rye whiskey brand founded in 1992 and owned by Suntory Global Spirits, producing aged expressions, single barrel, and limited-edition whiskeys for nationwide retail and direct retailer barrel programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Premium Bourbon and Rye Whiskey

NAICS

Distilleries (312140)

SIC

Wholesale-Beer, Wine & Distilled Alcoholic Beverages (5180)

akta.pro primary industry

Spirits Distilling & Brands (CRADAIAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Spirits Distillery Tours & Tastings (Whiskey, Rum, Gin, Vodka) (THAJAGAF)

Keywords

• Small batch bourbon
• Kentucky straight whiskey
• Aged bourbon spirits
• Rye whiskey distillery
• Single barrel whiskey

Headquarters

HQ city

Deerfield

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Whiskey Product Sales: Knob Creek generates revenue through the sale of its bourbon and rye whiskey products across various age statements and expressions including standard 9-year bourbon, aged variants (12, 18, 21 years), rye whiskeys (7, 10 years), cask strength expressions, and limited edition releases. Products are sold at suggested retail prices ranging from $44.99 to higher premiums for aged and limited editions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Knob Creek produces and sells premium Kentucky straight bourbon and rye whiskeys aged a minimum of 9 years in white oak barrels using pre-Prohibition style methods. The portfolio spans core bourbon age statements (9, 12, 18, and 21 year), rye whiskeys (7 and 10 year), single barrel and cask strength expressions, a Bourbon x Rye blend, a Smoked Maple flavored bourbon, and limited releases such as the Blender's Edition series, sold to consumers via national retail distribution.

Product overview

Knob Creek is a premium bourbon and rye whiskey brand founded in 1992 as part of the Small Batch Bourbon Collection by Booker Noe. The portfolio includes core bourbon expressions (9, 12, 18, and 21 year), rye whiskeys (7 and 10 year), blended varieties (Bourbon x Rye), single barrel selections, and flavored expressions (Smoked Maple). A new limited series, Blender's Edition, celebrates the art of blending. The brand also offers a Single Barrel Experience program for retailers and numerous cocktail recipes. All products are aged in Kentucky and bottled at various proofs, with most core expressions at 100 proof.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Knob Creek Bourbon: Core bourbon collection including 9-year, 12-year, 18-year, and 21-year expressions
• Knob Creek Rye
• Blender's Edition
• Single Barrel Experience
• Bourbon x Rye

Products and services

• 9 Year Old Bourbon Whiskey Flagship bourbon aged a minimum of 9 years in white oak barrels, bottled at 100 proof, balancing deep, pre-Prohibition-style bourbon with robust oak, smooth vanilla, and layered caramel. Targeted at adult whiskey enthusiasts.
• 12 Year Old Bourbon Whiskey Pre-Prohibition-style bourbon aged 12 years and bottled at 100 proof, featuring bold and spicy overtones with leathered fruits, vanilla, and caramelized wood. Targeted at premium whiskey enthusiasts.
• 18 Year Old Bourbon Whiskey Limited-edition bourbon aged 18 years in Kentucky rack houses, bottled at 100 proof, with rich copper color and deep notes of caramelized oak. Targeted at premium collectors and enthusiasts.
• 21 Year Bourbon Whiskey The oldest Knob Creek expression to date, aged 21 years in Kentucky rack houses and bottled at 100 proof, delivering a complex yet balanced liquid profile with caramelized oak, bold charred oak, caramel, and subtle fruit notes. Targeted at collectors and luxury whiskey enthusiasts.
• 7 Year Old Rye Whiskey Rye whiskey aged 7 years in deeply charred barrels and bottled at 100 proof, balancing sweet barrel notes and spicy rye character; high-corn mashbill targeted at bourbon drinkers exploring rye.
• 10 Year Old Rye Whiskey Rye whiskey aged 10 years and bottled at 100 proof, delivering pronounced flavors of char, oak, and caramel; positioned as a premium rye for sipping and high-end cocktails.
• Knob Creek Bourbon x Rye Blended Whiskey Blended straight whiskey combining 30% 9-year Kentucky Straight Bourbon with 70% 7-year Kentucky Straight Rye, bottled at 113 proof, offering rich vanilla, caramel, and a touch of pepper. Targeted at enthusiasts seeking a bold blended expression.
• 9 Year Old Single Barrel Reserve Bourbon Whiskey Single barrel bourbon aged 9 years, bottled at 120 proof (cask strength), featuring deep vanilla, nuts, oak, and caramel notes; available through the Single Barrel Experience program for retailers and selected retail channels.
• 7 Year Old Single Barrel Reserve Rye Whiskey Single barrel rye whiskey aged 7 years, bottled individually to deliver one-of-a-kind expressions of Knob Creek rye.
• Single Barrel Cask Strength Bourbon Whiskey Uncut, unfiltered cask strength bourbon bottled at 127.1 proof, showcasing the full flavor nuances of the Knob Creek portfolio.
• Single Barrel Cask Strength Rye Whiskey Single barrel cask strength rye whiskey bottled at 127.1 proof, achieving an even bolder expression of the Knob Creek rye profile.
• Smoked Maple Bourbon Whiskey Blended bourbon with natural smoked maple flavors, bottled at 90 proof, offering smoky sweetness alongside rich vanilla and caramel notes. Targeted at consumers seeking flavored bourbon.
• Knob Creek Blender's Edition 01 Bourbon Whiskey First release in a new limited-edition Blender's Edition series, aged minimum 10 years and bottled at 106 proof, designed to unlock the sweeter side of the Knob Creek profile with rich vanilla and indulgent confectionary notes. Targeted at whiskey enthusiasts and collectors of limited releases.
• Single Barrel Experience Service program that allows individual retailers to personally claim their own barrel of Knob Creek bourbon, including optional visits to the Clermont, KY distillery for the barrel claiming experience. Bottles are customized with engraved plates showing age and warehouse. Targeted at retail partners.

Quantifiable outcome

• 93 points for 21-year-old bourbon from Robb Report reviewer
• +5 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• The Jack Harlow FoundationminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 24 November 2024Knob Creek partnered with The Jack Harlow Foundation, a Kentucky-based nonprofit founded by Grammy-nominated artist Jack Harlow, to release a limited-edition single barrel bourbon. The collaboration celebrated Jack Harlow's 'No Place Like Home Tour' with bottles hand-selected by Freddie and Fred Noe of James B. Beam Distilling Co. and Maggie and Brian Harlow of the foundation. The LTO was released in each tour city at $59.99 SRP, with proceeds supporting The Jack Harlow Foundation's work to improve Kentucky communities.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Eagle Rare: Eagle Rare is a 10-year-old Kentucky straight bourbon produced by Buffalo Trace (Sazerac). It is a direct premium competitor to Knob Creek's 9-12 year core bourbons, with strong collector and enthusiast following.
• Old Forester: Old Forester is a heritage Kentucky bourbon brand owned by Brown-Forman, founded in 1870. It competes with Knob Creek in the premium bourbon segment, with core and aged offerings at similar price points.
• Woodford Reserve: Woodford Reserve is a premium Kentucky bourbon brand owned by Brown-Forman. It is the closest direct competitor to Knob Creek, competing head-to-head at similar age statements (7-year core, premium and double-oaked expressions) in the premium bourbon category.
• Wild Turkey: Wild Turkey is a Kentucky bourbon and rye brand owned by Campari Group, with aged expressions (Rare Breed, Russell's Reserve) competing directly against Knob Creek's aged and cask-strength portfolio.
• Bulleit Bourbon: Bulleit is a high-rye bourbon brand owned by Diageo, positioned in the premium bourbon segment alongside Knob Creek. It competes for similar shelf placement and consumer occasions in on-premise and off-premise channels.
• Buffalo Trace: Buffalo Trace is a flagship premium bourbon brand produced by the Sazerac Company. It directly competes with Knob Creek in premium aged bourbon, with overlapping age-statement offerings and strong craft positioning.
• Four Roses: Four Roses is a Kentucky bourbon brand owned by Kirin, producing single-barrel and small-batch bourbons that compete directly with Knob Creek's aged and single-barrel expressions. Similar craft heritage and premium positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Maker's Mark: Maker's Mark is a Beam-family premium bourbon brand owned by Suntory Global Spirits (Knob Creek's parent). It is a sibling brand within the same Beam portfolio, competing for similar consumers but at a slightly lower age and proof profile.

Emerging players

• Michter's: Michter's is a premium American whiskey brand (bourbon, rye, sour mash) that competes with Knob Creek in the super-premium tier through limited releases and small-batch production. A rising craft competitor in the same age-statement premium segment.
• Elijah Craig: Elijah Craig is a premium bourbon and rye brand owned by Heaven Hill, with aged small-batch offerings. It competes with Knob Creek in the premium and super-premium bourbon tier, particularly in the 12-18 year age range.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/knobcreek
• Xx.com/knobcreek
• Facebookfacebook.com/KnobCreek
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/knob-creek-inc.

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Knob Creek