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Charles Goodnight Bourbon vs Old Forester Statesman
Charles Goodnight Bourbon and Old Forester Statesman 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 Statesman |
|---|---|---|
| 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) +20 proof | 95 proof (47.5% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$75 – $80 | ~$50 – $55 ~$25 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 Statesman
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Charles Goodnight Bourbon Old Forester Statesman
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 8/4 heat: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 8 out of 10, Old Forester Statesman 4 out of 10
oak 8/5 oak: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 8 out of 10, Old Forester Statesman 5 out of 10
spice 7/5 spice: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 7 out of 10, Old Forester Statesman 5 out of 10
sweetness 7/8 sweetness: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 7 out of 10, Old Forester Statesman 8 out of 10
fruit 6/7 fruit: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 6 out of 10, Old Forester Statesman 7 out of 10
nuttiness 3/2 nuttiness: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 3 out of 10, Old Forester Statesman 2 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 Statesman: Old Forester's fruit-forward middle child, first made for a spy movie tie-in. Bright cherry and brown sugar lead, with cocoa and a touch of the house banana note.
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 Statesman if you want a bright, cherry-sweet Old Forester that sits between the 100 and 1920 in weight at a lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Charles Goodnight Bourbon); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Old Forester Statesman).