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Charles Goodnight Bourbon vs Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve
Charles Goodnight Bourbon and Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 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 | Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon, Barrel Proof | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 60% corn, 36% rye, 4% malted barley | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | 6 years | 9 years +3 yr |
| Proof | 115 proof (57.5% ABV) | 120 proof (60% ABV) +5 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$75 – $80 | ~$45 – $55 ~$28 less |
- Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 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.
Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Charles Goodnight Bourbon Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
nuttiness 3/7 nuttiness: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 3 out of 10, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 7 out of 10
fruit 6/3 fruit: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 6 out of 10, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 3 out of 10
sweetness 7/6 sweetness: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 7 out of 10, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 6 out of 10
spice 7/7 spice: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 7 out of 10, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 7 out of 10
oak 8/8 oak: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 8 out of 10, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 8 out of 10
heat 8/8 heat: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 8 out of 10, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 8 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The house grain character is what splits these.
- 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.
- Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve: The same nine-year Knob Creek juice bottled from a single barrel at 120 proof, and the extra strength suits it. Everything the standard bottling does, turned up — with the barrel-to-barrel variation that comes with the format.
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 Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve if you want the Beam profile at serious proof for well under what most barrel-strength bourbons cost with an older age statement.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Charles Goodnight Bourbon); neat, old-fashioned (Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve).