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Charles Goodnight Bourbon vs Woodford Reserve
Put Charles Goodnight Bourbon next to Woodford Reserve and you have an uncut, high-rye heavyweight set against a classic, high-rye stalwart.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Charles Goodnight Bourbon | Woodford Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| 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) +25 proof | 90.4 proof (45.2% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$75 – $80 | ~$35 – $42 ~$39 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.
Woodford Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Charles Goodnight Bourbon Woodford Reserve
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 8/4 heat: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 8 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 4 out of 10
oak 8/6 oak: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 8 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10
sweetness 7/6 sweetness: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 7 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10
spice 7/6 spice: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 7 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10
fruit 6/6 fruit: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 6 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 3 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 3 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.
- Woodford Reserve: The most widely poured premium bourbon in America, and a genuinely well-made one. Dried fruit and cocoa over a balanced 18% rye mash, finished smooth enough to please almost anyone.
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 Woodford Reserve if you want a polished, widely available crowd-pleaser that never puts a foot wrong at a significantly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Charles Goodnight Bourbon); neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Woodford Reserve).