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Blanton’s Single Barrel vs Penelope Four Grain
Blanton’s Single Barrel and Penelope Four Grain sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, rye-forward classic versus a sourced, classically built blend.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Blanton’s Single Barrel | Penelope Four Grain |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 93 proof (46.5% ABV) +13 proof | 80 proof (40% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$80 – $150 | ~$30 – $40 ~$80 less |
| Availability | Allocated | Widely available easier to find |
- Blanton’s Single Barrel and Penelope Four Grain do not publish an official mash bill.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
Blanton’s Single Barrel
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Penelope Four Grain
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Blanton’s Single Barrel Penelope Four Grain
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 6/3 spice: Blanton’s Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Penelope Four Grain 3 out of 10
oak 6/3 oak: Blanton’s Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Penelope Four Grain 3 out of 10
heat 4/2 heat: Blanton’s Single Barrel 4 out of 10, Penelope Four Grain 2 out of 10
fruit 6/5 fruit: Blanton’s Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Penelope Four Grain 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: Blanton’s Single Barrel 3 out of 10, Penelope Four Grain 4 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Blanton’s Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Penelope Four Grain 6 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Rye spice is the dividing line here.
- Blanton’s Single Barrel: The bottle that invented the single-barrel category and still trades largely on its horse-stopper cork and its scarcity. The whiskey itself is genuinely good — honeyed and citrus-led with nutmeg spice — but at secondary prices you are paying for the bottle as much as the pour.
- 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.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Blanton’s Single Barrel if you want the original single-barrel presentation and a honeyed, citrus-led profile, and the hunt is part of the appeal with more proof behind it.
- Go with Penelope Four Grain if you want an easy, light, honeyed bourbon that mixes well at a significantly lower price point and without hunting for it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Blanton’s Single Barrel); highball, cocktails (Penelope Four Grain).