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Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery Series #13 vs Penelope Rio
Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery Series #13 and Penelope Rio sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: a sourced, classically built blend versus a blender-built, classically built bottling.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery Series #13 | Penelope Rio |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | Four-Grain Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 74% corn, 7% rye, 16% wheat, 3% malted barley |
| Age | 8 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 110.8 proof (55.4% ABV) +13 proof | 98 proof (49% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$130 – $150 | ~$80 – $100 ~$50 less |
- Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery Series #13 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
Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery Series #13
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Penelope Rio
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery Series #13 Penelope Rio
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 7/4 oak: Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery Series #13 7 out of 10, Penelope Rio 4 out of 10
fruit 8/6 fruit: Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery Series #13 8 out of 10, Penelope Rio 6 out of 10
sweetness 8/9 sweetness: Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery Series #13 8 out of 10, Penelope Rio 9 out of 10
heat 6/5 heat: Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery Series #13 6 out of 10, Penelope Rio 5 out of 10
spice 6/6 spice: Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery Series #13 6 out of 10, Penelope Rio 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery Series #13 3 out of 10, Penelope Rio 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Barrel influence is the main separator.
- Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery Series #13: Bardstown's annual blend of older sourced bourbons. Rich and dessert-like, with creme brulee, toffee and dark fruit over peppery oak.
- 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 Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery Series #13 if you want a rich, dessert-like annual blend of older Kentucky bourbons with more proof behind it.
- Go with Penelope Rio if you want a honey-and-amburana-finished bourbon that tastes like a cinnamon roll at a significantly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat (Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery Series #13); neat, old-fashioned (Penelope Rio).