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Eagle Rare 12 Year vs Penelope Architect
Put Eagle Rare 12 Year next to Penelope Architect and you have a classic, corn-forward stalwart set against a blender-built, corn-forward bottling.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Eagle Rare 12 Year | Penelope Architect |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | Four-Grain Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley | 75% corn, 7% rye, 15% wheat, 3% malted barley |
| Age | 12 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 95 proof (47.5% ABV) | 104 proof (52% ABV) +9 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$50 – $80 | ~$60 – $70 |
| Availability | Allocated | Widely available easier to find |
- Eagle Rare 12 Year does not publish an official mash bill.
- US shelf prices as of 2026-10; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Eagle Rare 12 Year
Top 3, behind George T. Stagg and Jack Daniel's 14.
Penelope Architect
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Eagle Rare 12 Year Penelope Architect
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 7/5 oak: Eagle Rare 12 Year 7 out of 10, Penelope Architect 5 out of 10
spice 5/6 spice: Eagle Rare 12 Year 5 out of 10, Penelope Architect 6 out of 10
heat 5/6 heat: Eagle Rare 12 Year 5 out of 10, Penelope Architect 6 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Eagle Rare 12 Year 4 out of 10, Penelope Architect 3 out of 10
sweetness 7/7 sweetness: Eagle Rare 12 Year 7 out of 10, Penelope Architect 7 out of 10
fruit 6/6 fruit: Eagle Rare 12 Year 6 out of 10, Penelope Architect 6 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Barrel influence is the main separator.
- Eagle Rare 12 Year: Two more years and five more proof points than Eagle Rare 10. Brown sugar and toffee lead, with a drier, more astringent oak finish.
- 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 Eagle Rare 12 Year if you want an older, richer step up from Eagle Rare 10 with more brown sugar and oak.
- Go with Penelope Architect if you want a four-grain bourbon with a French oak finish that adds berries and warm spice with slightly more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Eagle Rare 12 Year); neat, old-fashioned (Penelope Architect).