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Charles Goodnight Bourbon vs Old Forester 100 Proof
Charles Goodnight Bourbon and Old Forester 100 Proof 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 | Old Forester 100 Proof |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon, Barrel Proof | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 60% corn, 36% rye, 4% malted barley | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Age | 6 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 115 proof (57.5% ABV) +15 proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$75 – $80 | ~$26 – $32 ~$49 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.
Old Forester 100 Proof
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Charles Goodnight Bourbon Old Forester 100 Proof
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 8/5 heat: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 8 out of 10, Old Forester 100 Proof 5 out of 10
oak 8/6 oak: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 8 out of 10, Old Forester 100 Proof 6 out of 10
spice 7/6 spice: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 7 out of 10, Old Forester 100 Proof 6 out of 10
fruit 6/5 fruit: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 6 out of 10, Old Forester 100 Proof 5 out of 10
sweetness 7/7 sweetness: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 7 out of 10, Old Forester 100 Proof 7 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 3 out of 10, Old Forester 100 Proof 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.
- Old Forester 100 Proof: The bottle most people should buy from this range: the same recipe as the 86 with enough proof to actually taste it. One of the strongest arguments on the shelf for spending six dollars more.
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 Old Forester 100 Proof if you want the best value in the Old Forester range and a superb old-fashioned base.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Charles Goodnight Bourbon); neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Old Forester 100 Proof).