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Charles Goodnight Bourbon vs Four Roses Small Batch
Charles Goodnight Bourbon and Four Roses Small Batch 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 | Four Roses Small Batch |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon, Barrel Proof | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 60% corn, 36% rye, 4% malted barley | 75% corn, 20% rye, 5% malted barley |
| Age | 6 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 115 proof (57.5% ABV) +25 proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$75 – $80 | ~$32 – $38 ~$43 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.
Four Roses Small Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Charles Goodnight Bourbon Four Roses Small Batch
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 8/4 heat: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 8 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 4 out of 10
oak 8/5 oak: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 8 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 5 out of 10
sweetness 7/6 sweetness: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 7 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 6 out of 10
spice 7/6 spice: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 7 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 6 out of 10
fruit 6/7 fruit: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 6 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 7 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 3 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 3 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.
- Four Roses Small Batch: Four Roses' yeast strains push this toward fruit and florals rather than wood. Red berry and cinnamon over a light body, with the rye showing up as brightness instead of bite.
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 Four Roses Small Batch if you want a fruit-and-floral profile that stands apart from the usual caramel-and-oak template at a significantly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Charles Goodnight Bourbon); neat, rocks, cocktails (Four Roses Small Batch).