Compare
Charles Goodnight Bourbon vs Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond
Put Charles Goodnight Bourbon next to Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond and you have an uncut, high-rye heavyweight set against a classic, high-rye stalwart.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Charles Goodnight Bourbon | Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond |
|---|---|---|
| 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 +2 yr | 4 years |
| Proof | 115 proof (57.5% ABV) +15 proof | 100 proof (50% 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 1897 Bottled-in-Bond
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Charles Goodnight Bourbon Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 8/5 heat: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 8 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
spice 7/6 spice: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 7 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10
oak 8/7 oak: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 8 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 7 out of 10
fruit 6/5 fruit: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 6 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
sweetness 7/7 sweetness: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 7 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 7 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 3 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 3 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 1897 Bottled-in-Bond: The bonded entry in the Whiskey Row series and a noticeable step up in density from the standard 100. More oak and more weight, though the price gap to the 100 proof is harder to justify than the flavour gap suggests.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Charles Goodnight Bourbon if you want a bold, oak-heavy Texas bourbon at barrel strength with an older age statement and with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
- Go with Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond if you want a bonded, denser take on the Old Forester profile with more barrel behind it at a lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Charles Goodnight Bourbon); neat, old-fashioned (Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond).