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Eagle Rare 12 Year vs Penelope Rio
Comparing Eagle Rare 12 Year and Penelope Rio reveals a matchup between a traditional, even-keeled Kentucky staple and a sourced, even-keeled blend.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Eagle Rare 12 Year | 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 | 12 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 95 proof (47.5% ABV) | 98 proof (49% ABV) +3 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$50 – $80 ~$25 less | ~$80 – $100 |
| Availability | Allocated | Limited 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 Rio
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Eagle Rare 12 Year Penelope Rio
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 7/4 oak: Eagle Rare 12 Year 7 out of 10, Penelope Rio 4 out of 10
sweetness 7/9 sweetness: Eagle Rare 12 Year 7 out of 10, Penelope Rio 9 out of 10
spice 5/6 spice: Eagle Rare 12 Year 5 out of 10, Penelope Rio 6 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Eagle Rare 12 Year 4 out of 10, Penelope Rio 3 out of 10
fruit 6/6 fruit: Eagle Rare 12 Year 6 out of 10, Penelope Rio 6 out of 10
heat 5/5 heat: Eagle Rare 12 Year 5 out of 10, Penelope Rio 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Oak is doing most of the differentiating here.
- 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 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 Eagle Rare 12 Year if you want an older, richer step up from Eagle Rare 10 with more brown sugar and oak at a lower price point.
- Go with Penelope Rio if you want a honey-and-amburana-finished bourbon that tastes like a cinnamon roll without hunting for it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Eagle Rare 12 Year); neat, old-fashioned (Penelope Rio).