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Bulleit Bourbon vs Penelope Rio
Put Bulleit Bourbon next to Penelope Rio and you have a blender-built, high-rye bottling set against a sourced, corn-forward blend.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Bulleit Bourbon | Penelope Rio |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Four-Grain Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 68% corn, 28% rye, 4% 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 1 | ~$25 – $32 ~$62 less | ~$80 – $100 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Limited |
- 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 Rio
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Bulleit Bourbon Penelope Rio
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 5/9 sweetness: Bulleit Bourbon 5 out of 10, Penelope Rio 9 out of 10
spice 7/6 spice: Bulleit Bourbon 7 out of 10, Penelope Rio 6 out of 10
oak 5/4 oak: Bulleit Bourbon 5 out of 10, Penelope Rio 4 out of 10
fruit 5/6 fruit: Bulleit Bourbon 5 out of 10, Penelope Rio 6 out of 10
heat 4/5 heat: Bulleit Bourbon 4 out of 10, Penelope Rio 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Bulleit Bourbon 3 out of 10, Penelope Rio 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The clearest split is how sweet each one drinks.
- 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 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 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 Rio if you want a honey-and-amburana-finished bourbon that tastes like a cinnamon roll with slightly more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed old-fashioned, cocktails, highball (Bulleit Bourbon); neat, old-fashioned (Penelope Rio).