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Booker’s vs Penelope Four Grain
Comparing Booker’s and Penelope Four Grain reveals a matchup between an uncut, spice-driven heavyweight and a sourced, even-keeled blend.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Booker’s | Penelope Four Grain |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon, Barrel Proof | Four-Grain Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | 74% corn, 7% rye, 16% wheat, 3% malted barley |
| Age | 7 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 125 proof (62.5% ABV) +45 proof | 80 proof (40% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$85 – $110 | ~$30 – $40 ~$63 less |
| Availability | Limited | Widely available easier to find |
- Booker’s and Penelope Four Grain do not publish an official mash bill.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
Booker’s
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Penelope Four Grain
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Booker’s Penelope Four Grain
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 10/2 heat: Booker’s 10 out of 10, Penelope Four Grain 2 out of 10
oak 8/3 oak: Booker’s 8 out of 10, Penelope Four Grain 3 out of 10
spice 7/3 spice: Booker’s 7 out of 10, Penelope Four Grain 3 out of 10
nuttiness 8/4 nuttiness: Booker’s 8 out of 10, Penelope Four Grain 4 out of 10
sweetness 7/6 sweetness: Booker’s 7 out of 10, Penelope Four Grain 6 out of 10
fruit 4/5 fruit: Booker’s 4 out of 10, Penelope Four Grain 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
These two land very differently on the palate for heat.
- Booker’s: Uncut, unfiltered Beam at batch strength, and the most concentrated expression of the house peanut-and-oak character. Enormous and hot, with a finish that goes on well past where you expect it to stop.
- 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 Booker’s if you want the Beam house style at full power and you have water on the table with significantly 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 (Booker’s); highball, cocktails (Penelope Four Grain).