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Four Roses Small Batch vs Penelope Architect
Put Four Roses Small Batch next to Penelope Architect and you have a classic, high-rye stalwart set against a sourced, corn-forward blend.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Four Roses Small Batch | 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 | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 104 proof (52% ABV) +14 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$32 – $38 ~$30 less | ~$60 – $70 |
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Four Roses Small Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Penelope Architect
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Four Roses Small Batch Penelope Architect
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 4/6 heat: Four Roses Small Batch 4 out of 10, Penelope Architect 6 out of 10
sweetness 6/7 sweetness: Four Roses Small Batch 6 out of 10, Penelope Architect 7 out of 10
fruit 7/6 fruit: Four Roses Small Batch 7 out of 10, Penelope Architect 6 out of 10
spice 6/6 spice: Four Roses Small Batch 6 out of 10, Penelope Architect 6 out of 10
oak 5/5 oak: Four Roses Small Batch 5 out of 10, Penelope Architect 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Four Roses Small Batch 3 out of 10, Penelope Architect 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
These two land very differently on the palate for heat.
- Four Roses Small Batch: Four Roses' yeast strains push this toward fruit and florals rather than wood. Red berry and cinnamon over a light body, with the rye showing up as brightness instead of bite.
- 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 Small Batch if you want a fruit-and-floral profile that stands apart from the usual caramel-and-oak template 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 neat, rocks, cocktails (Four Roses Small Batch); neat, old-fashioned (Penelope Architect).