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Henry McKenna 10 Year Single Barrel vs Penelope Architect
Put Henry McKenna 10 Year Single Barrel next to Penelope Architect and you have a classic, corn-forward stalwart set against a sourced, corn-forward blend.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Henry McKenna 10 Year Single Barrel | 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 | 10 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 104 proof (52% ABV) +4 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$40 – $70 ~$10 less | ~$60 – $70 |
| Availability | Limited | Widely available easier to find |
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Henry McKenna 10 Year Single Barrel
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Penelope Architect
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Flavor Profile
Henry McKenna 10 Year Single Barrel Penelope Architect
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 8/5 oak: Henry McKenna 10 Year Single Barrel 8 out of 10, Penelope Architect 5 out of 10
fruit 4/6 fruit: Henry McKenna 10 Year Single Barrel 4 out of 10, Penelope Architect 6 out of 10
nuttiness 5/3 nuttiness: Henry McKenna 10 Year Single Barrel 5 out of 10, Penelope Architect 3 out of 10
sweetness 6/7 sweetness: Henry McKenna 10 Year Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Penelope Architect 7 out of 10
spice 5/6 spice: Henry McKenna 10 Year Single Barrel 5 out of 10, Penelope Architect 6 out of 10
heat 5/6 heat: Henry McKenna 10 Year Single Barrel 5 out of 10, Penelope Architect 6 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Oak is doing most of the differentiating here.
- Henry McKenna 10 Year Single Barrel: A ten-year bonded single barrel, which is a specification almost nothing else on the shelf matches. Dry and oak-forward with real age showing, though barrel variation means bottles differ more than most.
- 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 Henry McKenna 10 Year Single Barrel if you want a bonded, ten-year single barrel with genuine age at a sane price.
- Go with Penelope Architect if you want a four-grain bourbon with a French oak finish that adds berries and warm spice without hunting for it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Henry McKenna 10 Year Single Barrel); neat, old-fashioned (Penelope Architect).