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Charles Goodnight Bourbon vs Penelope Rio
Put Charles Goodnight Bourbon next to Penelope Rio and you have an uncut, high-rye heavyweight set against a blender-built, corn-forward bottling.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Charles Goodnight Bourbon | Penelope Rio |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon, Barrel Proof | Four-Grain Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 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) +17 proof | 98 proof (49% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$75 – $80 ~$13 less | ~$80 – $100 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Limited |
- 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 Rio
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Charles Goodnight Bourbon Penelope Rio
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 8/4 oak: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 8 out of 10, Penelope Rio 4 out of 10
heat 8/5 heat: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 8 out of 10, Penelope Rio 5 out of 10
sweetness 7/9 sweetness: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 7 out of 10, Penelope Rio 9 out of 10
spice 7/6 spice: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 7 out of 10, Penelope Rio 6 out of 10
fruit 6/6 fruit: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 6 out of 10, Penelope Rio 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 3 out of 10, Penelope Rio 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Barrel influence is the main separator.
- 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 Rio: Penelope's four-grain blend finished in honey barrels and then amburana wood. It tastes like a cinnamon roll: honey, gingerbread and sweet baking spice.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Charles Goodnight Bourbon if you want a bold, oak-heavy Texas bourbon at barrel strength at a lower price point and without hunting for it.
- Go with Penelope Rio if you want a honey-and-amburana-finished bourbon that tastes like a cinnamon roll.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Charles Goodnight Bourbon); neat, old-fashioned (Penelope Rio).