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Elijah Craig Small Batch vs Charles Goodnight Bourbon
Comparing Elijah Craig Small Batch and Charles Goodnight Bourbon reveals a matchup between a traditional, even-keeled Kentucky staple and an uncut, spice-driven heavyweight.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Elijah Craig Small Batch | Charles Goodnight Bourbon |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon, Barrel Proof |
| Mash Bill | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley | 60% corn, 36% rye, 4% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 6 years |
| Proof | 94 proof (47% ABV) | 115 proof (57.5% ABV) +21 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$28 – $35 ~$46 less | ~$75 – $80 |
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Elijah Craig Small Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Charles Goodnight Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Elijah Craig Small Batch Charles Goodnight Bourbon
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 4/8 heat: Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10, Charles Goodnight Bourbon 8 out of 10
spice 5/7 spice: Elijah Craig Small Batch 5 out of 10, Charles Goodnight Bourbon 7 out of 10
fruit 4/6 fruit: Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10, Charles Goodnight Bourbon 6 out of 10
sweetness 6/7 sweetness: Elijah Craig Small Batch 6 out of 10, Charles Goodnight Bourbon 7 out of 10
oak 7/8 oak: Elijah Craig Small Batch 7 out of 10, Charles Goodnight Bourbon 8 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10, Charles Goodnight Bourbon 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Proof and heat dominate the difference.
- Elijah Craig Small Batch: A heavily oak-driven pour for the money, with vanilla bean and brown sugar riding on top of real char and smoke. The extra age shows up as wood depth rather than harshness.
- 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.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Elijah Craig Small Batch if you want the best oak-forward value on the shelf, with more wood character than its price suggests.
- 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.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Elijah Craig Small Batch); neat, rocks (Charles Goodnight Bourbon).