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Evan Williams Black Label vs Penelope Architect
Evan Williams Black Label and Penelope Architect sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, classically built classic versus a blender-built, classically built bottling.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Evan Williams Black Label | Penelope Architect |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | Four-Grain Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley | 75% corn, 7% rye, 15% wheat, 3% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 86 proof (43% ABV) | 104 proof (52% ABV) +18 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$14 – $18 ~$49 less | ~$60 – $70 |
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Evan Williams Black Label
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Penelope Architect
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Evan Williams Black Label Penelope Architect
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 3/6 heat: Evan Williams Black Label 3 out of 10, Penelope Architect 6 out of 10
spice 4/6 spice: Evan Williams Black Label 4 out of 10, Penelope Architect 6 out of 10
fruit 4/6 fruit: Evan Williams Black Label 4 out of 10, Penelope Architect 6 out of 10
sweetness 6/7 sweetness: Evan Williams Black Label 6 out of 10, Penelope Architect 7 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Evan Williams Black Label 4 out of 10, Penelope Architect 3 out of 10
oak 5/5 oak: Evan Williams Black Label 5 out of 10, Penelope Architect 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Proof and heat dominate the difference.
- Evan Williams Black Label: The everyday black label, and a perfectly competent well bourbon. Softer and sweeter than the bonded version, with less to say but nothing objectionable.
- 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 Evan Williams Black Label if you want a dependable, inexpensive mixing bourbon and nothing more complicated than that 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 cocktails, highball, rocks (Evan Williams Black Label); neat, old-fashioned (Penelope Architect).