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Elijah Craig Small Batch vs Penelope Rio
Comparing Elijah Craig Small Batch and Penelope Rio reveals a matchup between a traditional, even-keeled Kentucky staple and a sourced, even-keeled blend.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Elijah Craig Small Batch | Penelope Rio |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | Four-Grain Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley | 74% corn, 7% rye, 16% wheat, 3% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 94 proof (47% ABV) | 98 proof (49% ABV) +4 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$28 – $35 ~$59 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
Elijah Craig Small Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Penelope Rio
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Elijah Craig Small Batch Penelope Rio
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 6/9 sweetness: Elijah Craig Small Batch 6 out of 10, Penelope Rio 9 out of 10
oak 7/4 oak: Elijah Craig Small Batch 7 out of 10, Penelope Rio 4 out of 10
fruit 4/6 fruit: Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10, Penelope Rio 6 out of 10
spice 5/6 spice: Elijah Craig Small Batch 5 out of 10, Penelope Rio 6 out of 10
heat 4/5 heat: Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10, Penelope Rio 5 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10, Penelope Rio 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The clearest split is how sweet each one drinks.
- Elijah Craig Small Batch: A heavily oak-driven pour for the money, with vanilla bean and brown sugar riding on top of real char and smoke. The extra age shows up as wood depth rather than harshness.
- 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 Elijah Craig Small Batch if you want the best oak-forward value on the shelf, with more wood character than its price suggests.
- Go with Penelope Rio if you want a honey-and-amburana-finished bourbon that tastes like a cinnamon roll.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Elijah Craig Small Batch); neat, old-fashioned (Penelope Rio).