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Penelope Four Grain vs Charles Goodnight Bourbon
Penelope Four Grain and Charles Goodnight Bourbon sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: a sourced, classically built blend versus an uncut, rye-forward heavyweight.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Penelope Four Grain | Charles Goodnight Bourbon |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Four-Grain Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon, Barrel Proof |
| Mash Bill 1 | 74% corn, 7% rye, 16% wheat, 3% malted barley | 60% corn, 36% rye, 4% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 6 years |
| Proof | 80 proof (40% ABV) | 115 proof (57.5% ABV) +35 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$30 – $40 ~$43 less | ~$75 – $80 |
- Penelope Four Grain 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
Penelope Four Grain
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Charles Goodnight Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Penelope Four Grain Charles Goodnight Bourbon
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 2/8 heat: Penelope Four Grain 2 out of 10, Charles Goodnight Bourbon 8 out of 10
oak 3/8 oak: Penelope Four Grain 3 out of 10, Charles Goodnight Bourbon 8 out of 10
spice 3/7 spice: Penelope Four Grain 3 out of 10, Charles Goodnight Bourbon 7 out of 10
sweetness 6/7 sweetness: Penelope Four Grain 6 out of 10, Charles Goodnight Bourbon 7 out of 10
fruit 5/6 fruit: Penelope Four Grain 5 out of 10, Charles Goodnight Bourbon 6 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Penelope Four Grain 4 out of 10, Charles Goodnight Bourbon 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Proof and heat dominate the difference.
- Penelope Four Grain: A light, low-proof blend of corn, wheat, rye and barley. Honey, almond and orchard fruit keep it sweet and easy, though it reads young and thin when sipped neat.
- 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 Penelope Four Grain if you want an easy, light, honeyed bourbon that mixes well at a significantly lower price point.
- Go with Charles Goodnight Bourbon if you want a bold, oak-heavy Texas bourbon at barrel strength.
Best enjoyed highball, cocktails (Penelope Four Grain); neat, rocks (Charles Goodnight Bourbon).