For the first time in its history, Knob Creek has changed its signature wax seal. The 9 Year Old Independence Edition celebrates America’s 250th with red, white, and blue packaging. $36.99, limited time.
It took 250 years of American history; and 34 years of Knob Creek, to make this happen.
For the first time since the brand launched in 1992, James B. Beam Distilling Co. has changed the color of Knob Creek’s signature wax seal, swapping out the iconic black for red, white, and blue: a patriotic trilogy marking America’s semiquincentennial.
The result is the Knob Creek 9 Year Old: Independence Edition, a limited-release commemorative bottling available nationwide now ahead of the July 4th celebration.
Same Liquid. Different Statement.
Inside the Independence Edition is Knob Creek’s standard 100-proof, nine-year-old Kentucky Straight Bourbon; the same award-winning liquid that has built the brand’s reputation since 1992, not a special-batch reformulation.
Aged nine years in new charred American oak barrels and bottled at 50% ABV, expect bold caramel sweetness, smooth vanilla, seasoned oak, and warm baking spice with a long, rich finish.
The only thing that changed is the packaging; and given that the packaging change is a first in the brand’s history, that’s the point.
The SRP is $36.99.
The Heritage Behind the Bottle
Knob Creek launched in 1992 as one of four small-batch releases created by then-master distiller Booker Noe to revive higher-proof, complex pre-Prohibition-style whiskeys — at a time when bourbon wasn’t exactly fashionable. Noe was the sixth-generation Master Distiller of Jim Beam, and the brand was named for the Kentucky creek that runs near Abraham Lincoln’s childhood home — a deliberate nod to American roots that feels especially pointed in an anniversary year.
Today, Knob Creek is distilled under the direction of Fred Noe, Booker’s son, with the third generation of the family, Freddie Noe, continuing the legacy.
The Independence Edition also marks a parallel milestone for the distillery itself. James B. Beam Distilling Co. is celebrating 231 years of American whiskey heritage, tracing its founding to 1795 when Jacob Beam sold his first barrel of Old Jake Beam Sour Mash.
The Broader Context
Knob Creek’s patriotic packaging is part of a commemorative collection from the James B. Beam portfolio alongside Jim Beam and Maker’s Mark. Maker’s Mark’s 250th Anniversary release features its signature red wax accented with white and blue, with a portion of proceeds benefiting the Farmer Veteran Coalition. The wave of America 250 limited releases across the whiskey industry reflects the deep historical entanglement between American spirits and American identity — bourbon’s own origin story is inseparable from the founding era.
Should You Buy It?
If you drink Knob Creek regularly, the answer is straightforward: it is the same bourbon at the same price, and the commemorative packaging gives it legitimate shelf presence. If you are a collector, the wax colorway change is historically notable given the brand’s 34-year consistency. If you are shopping for a July 4th host gift, $36.99 for a bottle this well-credentialed is a strong value play.
The Independence Edition is available nationwide for a limited time. Find it at major spirits retailers or through the distillery at beamdistilling.com.
