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Four Roses Bourbon vs Penelope Architect
Four Roses Bourbon and Penelope Architect sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, rye-forward classic versus a blender-built, classically built bottling.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Four Roses Bourbon | Penelope Architect |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Four-Grain Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 75% corn, 20% rye, 5% malted barley | 75% corn, 7% rye, 15% wheat, 3% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 80 proof (40% ABV) | 104 proof (52% ABV) +24 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$22 – $28 ~$40 less | ~$60 – $70 |
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Four Roses Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Penelope Architect
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Four Roses Bourbon Penelope Architect
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 2/6 heat: Four Roses Bourbon 2 out of 10, Penelope Architect 6 out of 10
oak 3/5 oak: Four Roses Bourbon 3 out of 10, Penelope Architect 5 out of 10
sweetness 6/7 sweetness: Four Roses Bourbon 6 out of 10, Penelope Architect 7 out of 10
spice 5/6 spice: Four Roses Bourbon 5 out of 10, Penelope Architect 6 out of 10
fruit 6/6 fruit: Four Roses Bourbon 6 out of 10, Penelope Architect 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Four Roses Bourbon 3 out of 10, Penelope Architect 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Proof and heat dominate the difference.
- Four Roses Bourbon: The yellow label entry point, blending all ten Four Roses recipes at a gentle 80 proof. Light and fruity to a fault, but the house floral character is already recognisable and it mixes beautifully.
- 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 Four Roses Bourbon if you want the Four Roses fruit-and-floral signature at its lightest and cheapest.
- 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 (Four Roses Bourbon); neat, old-fashioned (Penelope Architect).