Compare
Bulleit Bourbon vs Penelope Architect
Comparing Bulleit Bourbon and Penelope Architect reveals a matchup between a sourced, spice-driven blend and a blender-built, even-keeled bottling.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Bulleit Bourbon | Penelope Architect |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Four-Grain Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 68% corn, 28% rye, 4% malted barley | 75% corn, 7% rye, 15% wheat, 3% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 104 proof (52% ABV) +14 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$25 – $32 ~$37 less | ~$60 – $70 |
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Bulleit Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Penelope Architect
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Bulleit Bourbon Penelope Architect
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 5/7 sweetness: Bulleit Bourbon 5 out of 10, Penelope Architect 7 out of 10
heat 4/6 heat: Bulleit Bourbon 4 out of 10, Penelope Architect 6 out of 10
spice 7/6 spice: Bulleit Bourbon 7 out of 10, Penelope Architect 6 out of 10
fruit 5/6 fruit: Bulleit Bourbon 5 out of 10, Penelope Architect 6 out of 10
oak 5/5 oak: Bulleit Bourbon 5 out of 10, Penelope Architect 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Bulleit Bourbon 3 out of 10, Penelope Architect 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Sweetness is where these two part ways.
- Bulleit Bourbon: The bottle that put high-rye bourbon in every cocktail bar in the country. Peppery and dry with the familiar MGP dill note, and it earns its place behind the bar more than in a glass on its own.
- Penelope Architect: Penelope's four-grain blend finished with French oak staves chosen for their tannin. The French oak adds berry, cherry and warm spice to a vanilla-heavy base.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Bulleit Bourbon if you want a dry, peppery, high-rye bourbon built for cocktails and available absolutely everywhere at a significantly lower price point.
- Go with Penelope Architect if you want a four-grain bourbon with a French oak finish that adds berries and warm spice with more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed old-fashioned, cocktails, highball (Bulleit Bourbon); neat, old-fashioned (Penelope Architect).