Compare
Charles Goodnight Bourbon vs Old Forester 1870 Original Batch
Charles Goodnight Bourbon and Old Forester 1870 Original 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 | Old Forester 1870 Original Batch |
|---|---|---|
| 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) +25 proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$75 – $80 | ~$45 – $55 ~$28 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 1870 Original Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Charles Goodnight Bourbon Old Forester 1870 Original Batch
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 8/3 heat: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 8 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 3 out of 10
spice 7/4 spice: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 7 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 4 out of 10
oak 8/5 oak: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 8 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/2 nuttiness: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 3 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 2 out of 10
sweetness 7/7 sweetness: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 7 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 7 out of 10
fruit 6/6 fruit: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 6 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 6 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.
- Old Forester 1870 Original Batch: The first bottle in Old Forester's Whiskey Row Series, recreating the founder's habit of blending barrels from three warehouses. It is the lightest of the series, caramel sweet and easy.
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 1870 Original Batch if you want the gentlest, most easygoing pour in the Whiskey Row Series at a lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Charles Goodnight Bourbon); neat, rocks, highball (Old Forester 1870 Original Batch).