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Henry McKenna 10 Year Single Barrel vs Penelope Four Grain
Henry McKenna 10 Year Single Barrel and Penelope Four Grain sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, classically built classic versus a blender-built, classically built bottling.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Henry McKenna 10 Year Single Barrel | Penelope Four Grain |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | Four-Grain Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley | 74% corn, 7% rye, 16% wheat, 3% malted barley |
| Age | 10 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) +20 proof | 80 proof (40% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$40 – $70 | ~$30 – $40 ~$20 less |
| Availability | Limited | Widely available easier to find |
- Penelope Four Grain does not publish an official mash bill.
- 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 Four Grain
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Henry McKenna 10 Year Single Barrel Penelope Four Grain
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 8/3 oak: Henry McKenna 10 Year Single Barrel 8 out of 10, Penelope Four Grain 3 out of 10
heat 5/2 heat: Henry McKenna 10 Year Single Barrel 5 out of 10, Penelope Four Grain 2 out of 10
spice 5/3 spice: Henry McKenna 10 Year Single Barrel 5 out of 10, Penelope Four Grain 3 out of 10
fruit 4/5 fruit: Henry McKenna 10 Year Single Barrel 4 out of 10, Penelope Four Grain 5 out of 10
nuttiness 5/4 nuttiness: Henry McKenna 10 Year Single Barrel 5 out of 10, Penelope Four Grain 4 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Henry McKenna 10 Year Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Penelope Four Grain 6 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Barrel influence is the main separator.
- 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 Four Grain: A light, low-proof blend of corn, wheat, rye and barley. Honey, almond and orchard fruit keep it sweet and easy, though it reads young and thin when sipped neat.
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 with more proof behind it.
- Go with Penelope Four Grain if you want an easy, light, honeyed bourbon that mixes well at a lower price point and without hunting for it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Henry McKenna 10 Year Single Barrel); highball, cocktails (Penelope Four Grain).