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Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve vs Penelope Rio
Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve and Penelope Rio sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, rye-forward classic versus a blender-built, classically built bottling.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve | Penelope Rio |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Four-Grain Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | 74% corn, 7% rye, 16% wheat, 3% malted barley |
| Age | 9 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 120 proof (60% ABV) +22 proof | 98 proof (49% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$45 – $55 ~$40 less | ~$80 – $100 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Limited |
- Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 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
Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Penelope Rio
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve Penelope Rio
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 8/4 oak: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 8 out of 10, Penelope Rio 4 out of 10
nuttiness 7/3 nuttiness: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 7 out of 10, Penelope Rio 3 out of 10
sweetness 6/9 sweetness: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 6 out of 10, Penelope Rio 9 out of 10
fruit 3/6 fruit: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 3 out of 10, Penelope Rio 6 out of 10
heat 8/5 heat: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 8 out of 10, Penelope Rio 5 out of 10
spice 7/6 spice: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 7 out of 10, Penelope Rio 6 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Barrel influence is the main separator.
- Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve: The same nine-year Knob Creek juice bottled from a single barrel at 120 proof, and the extra strength suits it. Everything the standard bottling does, turned up — with the barrel-to-barrel variation that comes with the format.
- Penelope Rio: Penelope's four-grain blend finished in honey barrels and then amburana wood. It tastes like a cinnamon roll: honey, gingerbread and sweet baking spice.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve if you want the Beam profile at serious proof for well under what most barrel-strength bourbons cost without hunting for it.
- Go with Penelope Rio if you want a honey-and-amburana-finished bourbon that tastes like a cinnamon roll.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve); neat, old-fashioned (Penelope Rio).