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Charles Goodnight Bourbon vs Penelope Four Grain
Charles Goodnight Bourbon and Penelope Four Grain sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an uncut, rye-forward heavyweight versus a blender-built, classically built bottling.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Charles Goodnight Bourbon | Penelope Four Grain |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon, Barrel Proof | Four-Grain Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 60% corn, 36% rye, 4% malted barley | 74% corn, 7% rye, 16% wheat, 3% malted barley |
| Age | 6 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 115 proof (57.5% ABV) +35 proof | 80 proof (40% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$75 – $80 | ~$30 – $40 ~$43 less |
- Penelope Four Grain 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.
Penelope Four Grain
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Charles Goodnight Bourbon Penelope Four Grain
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 8/2 heat: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 8 out of 10, Penelope Four Grain 2 out of 10
oak 8/3 oak: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 8 out of 10, Penelope Four Grain 3 out of 10
spice 7/3 spice: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 7 out of 10, Penelope Four Grain 3 out of 10
sweetness 7/6 sweetness: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 7 out of 10, Penelope Four Grain 6 out of 10
fruit 6/5 fruit: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 6 out of 10, Penelope Four Grain 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 3 out of 10, Penelope Four Grain 4 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.
- Penelope Four Grain: A light, low-proof blend of corn, wheat, rye and barley. Honey, almond and orchard fruit keep it sweet and easy, though it reads young and thin when sipped neat.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Charles Goodnight Bourbon if you want a bold, oak-heavy Texas bourbon at barrel strength.
- Go with Penelope Four Grain if you want an easy, light, honeyed bourbon that mixes well at a significantly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Charles Goodnight Bourbon); highball, cocktails (Penelope Four Grain).