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Charles Goodnight Bourbon vs Willett Pot Still Reserve
Charles Goodnight Bourbon and Willett Pot Still Reserve sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an uncut, rye-forward heavyweight versus a new-wave, classically built craft style.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Charles Goodnight Bourbon | Willett Pot Still Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon, Barrel Proof | Traditional 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) +21 proof | 94 proof (47% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$75 – $80 | ~$45 – $60 ~$25 less |
- Willett Pot Still 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.
Willett Pot Still Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Charles Goodnight Bourbon Willett Pot Still Reserve
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 8/4 heat: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 8 out of 10, Willett Pot Still Reserve 4 out of 10
spice 7/5 spice: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 7 out of 10, Willett Pot Still Reserve 5 out of 10
oak 8/6 oak: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 8 out of 10, Willett Pot Still Reserve 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 3 out of 10, Willett Pot Still Reserve 4 out of 10
sweetness 7/7 sweetness: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 7 out of 10, Willett Pot Still Reserve 7 out of 10
fruit 6/6 fruit: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 6 out of 10, Willett Pot Still Reserve 6 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.
- Willett Pot Still Reserve: Famous first for the pot-still-shaped decanter and second for the whiskey, which is a fair ordering. Pleasant, sweet and fruit-leaning, with a good deal of the price attached to the glass.
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 Willett Pot Still Reserve if you want a distinctive bottle on the shelf and an easy, fruit-forward pour inside it at a lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Charles Goodnight Bourbon); neat, rocks (Willett Pot Still Reserve).