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Buffalo Trace vs Penelope Rio
Buffalo Trace and Penelope Rio sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, classically built classic versus a sourced, classically built blend.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Buffalo Trace | Penelope Rio |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | Four-Grain Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley | 74% corn, 7% rye, 16% wheat, 3% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 98 proof (49% ABV) +8 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$28 – $35 ~$59 less | ~$80 – $100 |
- Buffalo Trace 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
Buffalo Trace
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Penelope Rio
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Buffalo Trace Penelope Rio
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 6/9 sweetness: Buffalo Trace 6 out of 10, Penelope Rio 9 out of 10
oak 6/4 oak: Buffalo Trace 6 out of 10, Penelope Rio 4 out of 10
spice 5/6 spice: Buffalo Trace 5 out of 10, Penelope Rio 6 out of 10
fruit 5/6 fruit: Buffalo Trace 5 out of 10, Penelope Rio 6 out of 10
heat 4/5 heat: Buffalo Trace 4 out of 10, Penelope Rio 5 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Buffalo Trace 4 out of 10, Penelope Rio 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The clearest split is how sweet each one drinks.
- Buffalo Trace: The reference-point Kentucky bourbon: balanced brown sugar and vanilla sweetness, a whisper of mint, and just enough oak and spice to keep it interesting. Nothing is loud, which is exactly the point at 90 proof.
- 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 Buffalo Trace if you want the balanced, everyday Kentucky benchmark that does nothing wrong at a fair price.
- Go with Penelope Rio if you want a honey-and-amburana-finished bourbon that tastes like a cinnamon roll with slightly more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Buffalo Trace); neat, old-fashioned (Penelope Rio).