Compare
Charles Goodnight Bourbon vs Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel
Charles Goodnight Bourbon and Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an uncut, rye-forward heavyweight versus an old-guard, classically built classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Charles Goodnight Bourbon | Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | ~$60 – $80 ~$8 less |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Limited |
- 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 Toasted Barrel
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Charles Goodnight Bourbon Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 8/4 heat: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 8 out of 10, Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 4 out of 10
spice 7/5 spice: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 7 out of 10, Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 5 out of 10
fruit 6/4 fruit: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 6 out of 10, Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 4 out of 10
nuttiness 3/5 nuttiness: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 3 out of 10, Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 5 out of 10
sweetness 7/8 sweetness: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 7 out of 10, Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 8 out of 10
oak 8/9 oak: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 8 out of 10, Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 9 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.
- Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel: Finished in a second toasted (not charred) barrel, which produces an unmistakable toasted-marshmallow note. Sweet and heavily wooded, and one of the more distinctive finishes any major producer makes.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Charles Goodnight Bourbon if you want a bold, oak-heavy Texas bourbon at barrel strength without hunting for it and with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
- Go with Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel if you want a distinctive toasted-oak, marshmallow-sweet finish you will not find in a standard bourbon at a slightly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Charles Goodnight Bourbon); neat, rocks (Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel).