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Blanton’s Single Barrel vs Penelope Rio
Comparing Blanton’s Single Barrel and Penelope Rio reveals a matchup between a traditional, spice-driven Kentucky staple and a sourced, even-keeled blend.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Blanton’s Single Barrel | 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 | 93 proof (46.5% ABV) | 98 proof (49% ABV) +5 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$80 – $150 | ~$80 – $100 ~$25 less |
| Availability | Allocated | Limited easier to find |
- Blanton’s Single Barrel 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
Blanton’s Single Barrel
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Penelope Rio
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Blanton’s Single Barrel Penelope Rio
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 6/9 sweetness: Blanton’s Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Penelope Rio 9 out of 10
oak 6/4 oak: Blanton’s Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Penelope Rio 4 out of 10
heat 4/5 heat: Blanton’s Single Barrel 4 out of 10, Penelope Rio 5 out of 10
spice 6/6 spice: Blanton’s Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Penelope Rio 6 out of 10
fruit 6/6 fruit: Blanton’s Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Penelope Rio 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Blanton’s Single Barrel 3 out of 10, Penelope Rio 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The clearest split is how sweet each one drinks.
- 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 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 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.
- Go with Penelope Rio if you want a honey-and-amburana-finished bourbon that tastes like a cinnamon roll at a lower price point and without hunting for it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Blanton’s Single Barrel); neat, old-fashioned (Penelope Rio).