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Four Roses Single Barrel vs Penelope Toasted Series
Four Roses Single Barrel and Penelope Toasted Series are cut from similar cloth: two takes on high-rye bourbons, where the real difference is price (~$45 – $55 vs. ~$55 – $70).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Four Roses Single Barrel | Penelope Toasted Series |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 60% corn, 35% rye, 5% malted barley | 75% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$45 – $55 ~$13 less | ~$55 – $70 |
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Four Roses Single Barrel
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Penelope Toasted Series
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Four Roses Single Barrel Penelope Toasted Series
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 8/5 spice: Four Roses Single Barrel 8 out of 10, Penelope Toasted Series 5 out of 10
fruit 7/4 fruit: Four Roses Single Barrel 7 out of 10, Penelope Toasted Series 4 out of 10
sweetness 6/7 sweetness: Four Roses Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Penelope Toasted Series 7 out of 10
oak 6/7 oak: Four Roses Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Penelope Toasted Series 7 out of 10
heat 6/5 heat: Four Roses Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Penelope Toasted Series 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Four Roses Single Barrel 3 out of 10, Penelope Toasted Series 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Rye spice is the dividing line here.
- Four Roses Single Barrel: The OBSV recipe on its own at 100 proof — the highest-rye mash Four Roses uses, paired with their most floral yeast. Cherry and clove in equal measure, and a genuinely distinctive glass.
- Penelope Toasted Series: Finished in a second, freshly toasted barrel, which pushes it toward toffee, roasted coffee and darker oak. The toast level changes from batch to batch.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Four Roses Single Barrel if you want the most expressive, spice-and-fruit-forward single recipe in the Four Roses range at a lower price point.
- Go with Penelope Toasted Series if you want a toasty, coffee-and-toffee bourbon from a second-barrel finish with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Four Roses Single Barrel); neat, old-fashioned (Penelope Toasted Series).