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Ancient Age vs Penelope Rio
Put Ancient Age next to Penelope Rio and you have a classic, high-rye stalwart set against a blender-built, corn-forward bottling.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Ancient Age | Penelope Rio |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Four-Grain Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 15% rye, 10% malted barley | 74% corn, 7% rye, 16% wheat, 3% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 80 proof (40% ABV) | 98 proof (49% ABV) +18 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$14 – $18 ~$74 less | ~$80 – $100 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Limited |
- Ancient Age does not publish an official mash bill.
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Ancient Age
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Penelope Rio
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Flavor Profile
Ancient Age Penelope Rio
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 5/9 sweetness: Ancient Age 5 out of 10, Penelope Rio 9 out of 10
heat 2/5 heat: Ancient Age 2 out of 10, Penelope Rio 5 out of 10
spice 4/6 spice: Ancient Age 4 out of 10, Penelope Rio 6 out of 10
fruit 4/6 fruit: Ancient Age 4 out of 10, Penelope Rio 6 out of 10
oak 3/4 oak: Ancient Age 3 out of 10, Penelope Rio 4 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Ancient Age 4 out of 10, Penelope Rio 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Sweetness is where these two part ways.
- Ancient Age: The bottom rung of the Buffalo Trace ladder and priced accordingly. Thin and simple at 80 proof, but it is recognisably the Mash Bill #2 recipe and it does its job in a highball without complaint.
- Penelope Rio: Penelope's four-grain blend finished in honey barrels and then amburana wood. It tastes like a cinnamon roll: honey, gingerbread and sweet baking spice.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Ancient Age if you want the cheapest honest mixer in the lineup and you are not drinking it neat without hunting for it.
- Go with Penelope Rio if you want a honey-and-amburana-finished bourbon that tastes like a cinnamon roll with more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed cocktails, highball (Ancient Age); neat, old-fashioned (Penelope Rio).