Compare
Charles Goodnight Bourbon vs Evan Williams Black Label
Charles Goodnight Bourbon and Evan Williams Black Label 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 | Evan Williams Black Label |
|---|---|---|
| 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) +29 proof | 86 proof (43% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$75 – $80 | ~$14 – $18 ~$62 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.
Evan Williams Black Label
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Charles Goodnight Bourbon Evan Williams Black Label
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 8/3 heat: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 8 out of 10, Evan Williams Black Label 3 out of 10
spice 7/4 spice: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 7 out of 10, Evan Williams Black Label 4 out of 10
oak 8/5 oak: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 8 out of 10, Evan Williams Black Label 5 out of 10
fruit 6/4 fruit: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 6 out of 10, Evan Williams Black Label 4 out of 10
sweetness 7/6 sweetness: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 7 out of 10, Evan Williams Black Label 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 3 out of 10, Evan Williams Black Label 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.
- Evan Williams Black Label: The everyday black label, and a perfectly competent well bourbon. Softer and sweeter than the bonded version, with less to say but nothing objectionable.
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 Evan Williams Black Label if you want a dependable, inexpensive mixing bourbon and nothing more complicated than that at a significantly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Charles Goodnight Bourbon); cocktails, highball, rocks (Evan Williams Black Label).