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Four Roses Small Batch vs Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year
Comparing Four Roses Small Batch and Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year reveals a matchup between a traditional, spice-driven Kentucky staple and an uncut, spice-driven heavyweight.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Four Roses Small Batch | Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon, Barrel Proof |
| Mash Bill | 75% corn, 20% rye, 5% malted barley | 70% corn, 25% rye, 5% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 7 years |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 115.2 proof (57.6% ABV) +25 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$32 – $38 ~$28 less | ~$60 – $65 |
- 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 Barrel Strength 7 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Four Roses Small Batch Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 4/8 heat: Four Roses Small Batch 4 out of 10, Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year 8 out of 10
oak 5/7 oak: Four Roses Small Batch 5 out of 10, Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year 7 out of 10
fruit 7/5 fruit: Four Roses Small Batch 7 out of 10, Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year 5 out of 10
sweetness 6/7 sweetness: Four Roses Small Batch 6 out of 10, Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year 7 out of 10
spice 6/7 spice: Four Roses Small Batch 6 out of 10, Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year 7 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Four Roses Small Batch 3 out of 10, Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Proof and heat dominate the difference.
- 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 Barrel Strength 7 Year: Penelope's uncut flagship, now with a seven-year age statement. It is richer and spicier than the Four Grain, with caramel and rye spice carried by a lot of proof.
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 lower price point.
- Go with Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year if you want a well-priced, seven-year, uncut blend with real depth and spice with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, cocktails (Four Roses Small Batch); neat, old-fashioned (Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year).