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Charles Goodnight Bourbon vs Ancient Age
Charles Goodnight Bourbon and Ancient Age sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an uncut, rye-forward heavyweight versus an old-guard, rye-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Charles Goodnight Bourbon | Ancient Age |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon, Barrel Proof | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 60% corn, 36% rye, 4% malted barley | 75% corn, 15% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Age | 6 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 115 proof (57.5% ABV) +35 proof | 80 proof (40% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$75 – $80 | ~$14 – $18 ~$62 less |
- Ancient Age does not publish an official mash bill.
- US shelf prices as of 2026-10; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Charles Goodnight Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Ancient Age
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Charles Goodnight Bourbon Ancient Age
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 8/2 heat: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 8 out of 10, Ancient Age 2 out of 10
oak 8/3 oak: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 8 out of 10, Ancient Age 3 out of 10
spice 7/4 spice: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 7 out of 10, Ancient Age 4 out of 10
sweetness 7/5 sweetness: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 7 out of 10, Ancient Age 5 out of 10
fruit 6/4 fruit: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 6 out of 10, Ancient Age 4 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 3 out of 10, Ancient Age 4 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
These two land very differently on the palate for heat.
- Charles Goodnight Bourbon: A barrel-strength Texas bourbon. The hot Texas climate pulls a lot of oak in six years, giving deep wood, brown sugar and dark fruit with plenty of rye spice.
- Ancient Age: The bottom rung of the Buffalo Trace ladder and priced accordingly. Thin and simple at 80 proof, but it is recognisably the Mash Bill #2 recipe and it does its job in a highball without complaint.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Charles Goodnight Bourbon if you want a bold, oak-heavy Texas bourbon at barrel strength with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
- Go with Ancient Age if you want the cheapest honest mixer in the lineup and you are not drinking it neat.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Charles Goodnight Bourbon); cocktails, highball (Ancient Age).