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Charles Goodnight Bourbon vs Elijah Craig Small Batch
Comparing Charles Goodnight Bourbon and Elijah Craig Small Batch reveals a matchup between an uncut, spice-driven heavyweight and a traditional, even-keeled Kentucky staple.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Charles Goodnight Bourbon | Elijah Craig Small Batch |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon, Barrel Proof | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 60% corn, 36% rye, 4% malted barley | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | 6 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 115 proof (57.5% ABV) +21 proof | 94 proof (47% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$75 – $80 | ~$28 – $35 ~$46 less |
- 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.
Elijah Craig Small Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Charles Goodnight Bourbon Elijah Craig Small Batch
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 8/4 heat: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 8 out of 10, Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10
spice 7/5 spice: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 7 out of 10, Elijah Craig Small Batch 5 out of 10
fruit 6/4 fruit: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 6 out of 10, Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10
sweetness 7/6 sweetness: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 7 out of 10, Elijah Craig Small Batch 6 out of 10
oak 8/7 oak: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 8 out of 10, Elijah Craig Small Batch 7 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 3 out of 10, Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Proof and heat dominate the difference.
- 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.
- Elijah Craig Small Batch: A heavily oak-driven pour for the money, with vanilla bean and brown sugar riding on top of real char and smoke. The extra age shows up as wood depth rather than harshness.
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 Elijah Craig Small Batch if you want the best oak-forward value on the shelf, with more wood character than its price suggests.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Charles Goodnight Bourbon); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Elijah Craig Small Batch).