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Old Forester 100 Proof vs Charles Goodnight Bourbon
Old Forester 100 Proof and Charles Goodnight Bourbon sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, rye-forward classic versus an uncut, rye-forward heavyweight.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Old Forester 100 Proof | Charles Goodnight Bourbon |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon, Barrel Proof |
| Mash Bill | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley | 60% corn, 36% rye, 4% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 6 years |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 115 proof (57.5% ABV) +15 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$26 – $32 ~$49 less | ~$75 – $80 |
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Old Forester 100 Proof
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Charles Goodnight Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Old Forester 100 Proof Charles Goodnight Bourbon
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 5/8 heat: Old Forester 100 Proof 5 out of 10, Charles Goodnight Bourbon 8 out of 10
oak 6/8 oak: Old Forester 100 Proof 6 out of 10, Charles Goodnight Bourbon 8 out of 10
spice 6/7 spice: Old Forester 100 Proof 6 out of 10, Charles Goodnight Bourbon 7 out of 10
fruit 5/6 fruit: Old Forester 100 Proof 5 out of 10, Charles Goodnight Bourbon 6 out of 10
sweetness 7/7 sweetness: Old Forester 100 Proof 7 out of 10, Charles Goodnight Bourbon 7 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Old Forester 100 Proof 3 out of 10, Charles Goodnight Bourbon 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
These two land very differently on the palate for heat.
- Old Forester 100 Proof: The bottle most people should buy from this range: the same recipe as the 86 with enough proof to actually taste it. One of the strongest arguments on the shelf for spending six dollars more.
- 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 Old Forester 100 Proof if you want the best value in the Old Forester range and a superb old-fashioned base.
- 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, cocktails (Old Forester 100 Proof); neat, rocks (Charles Goodnight Bourbon).