Compare
Charles Goodnight Bourbon vs W.L. Weller Special Reserve
Put Charles Goodnight Bourbon next to W.L. Weller Special Reserve and you have an uncut, high-rye heavyweight set against a classic, high-wheat stalwart.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Charles Goodnight Bourbon | W.L. Weller Special Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon, Barrel Proof | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 60% corn, 36% rye, 4% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | 6 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 115 proof (57.5% ABV) +25 proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$75 – $80 | ~$30 – $60 ~$33 less |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Allocated |
- W.L. Weller Special Reserve 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.
W.L. Weller Special Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Charles Goodnight Bourbon W.L. Weller Special Reserve
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 7/2 spice: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 7 out of 10, W.L. Weller Special Reserve 2 out of 10
heat 8/3 heat: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 8 out of 10, W.L. Weller Special Reserve 3 out of 10
oak 8/4 oak: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 8 out of 10, W.L. Weller Special Reserve 4 out of 10
fruit 6/5 fruit: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 6 out of 10, W.L. Weller Special Reserve 5 out of 10
sweetness 7/7 sweetness: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 7 out of 10, W.L. Weller Special Reserve 7 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 3 out of 10, W.L. Weller Special Reserve 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Rye spice is the dividing line here.
- 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.
- W.L. Weller Special Reserve: The entry point to the Weller line and an easy introduction to wheated bourbon. Soft honey and vanilla with almost no rye bite, a bread-dough body, and a short, sweet finish that asks nothing of you.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Charles Goodnight Bourbon if you want a bold, oak-heavy Texas bourbon at barrel strength without hunting for it and with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
- Go with W.L. Weller Special Reserve if you want the softest, sweetest, most approachable wheated pour of the group at a significantly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Charles Goodnight Bourbon); neat, rocks, highball (W.L. Weller Special Reserve).