Compare
Larceny Small Batch vs Penelope Rio
Comparing Larceny Small Batch and Penelope Rio reveals a matchup between a traditional, wheated Kentucky staple and a sourced, even-keeled blend.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Larceny Small Batch | Penelope Rio |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | Four-Grain Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 68% corn, 20% wheat, 12% malted barley | 74% corn, 7% rye, 16% wheat, 3% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 92 proof (46% ABV) | 98 proof (49% ABV) +6 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$25 – $32 ~$62 less | ~$80 – $100 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Limited |
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Larceny Small Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Penelope Rio
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Larceny Small Batch Penelope Rio
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 2/6 spice: Larceny Small Batch 2 out of 10, Penelope Rio 6 out of 10
heat 3/5 heat: Larceny Small Batch 3 out of 10, Penelope Rio 5 out of 10
sweetness 8/9 sweetness: Larceny Small Batch 8 out of 10, Penelope Rio 9 out of 10
fruit 5/6 fruit: Larceny Small Batch 5 out of 10, Penelope Rio 6 out of 10
oak 4/4 oak: Larceny Small Batch 4 out of 10, Penelope Rio 4 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Larceny Small Batch 3 out of 10, Penelope Rio 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Rye spice is the dividing line here.
- Larceny Small Batch: Heaven Hill's everyday wheater and the most affordable way into the style. Soft honey and butterscotch with almost no spice, and a texture that makes the low price hard to argue with.
- 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 Larceny Small Batch if you want an easy, sweet, genuinely inexpensive wheated bourbon at a significantly lower price point and without hunting for it.
- Go with Penelope Rio if you want a honey-and-amburana-finished bourbon that tastes like a cinnamon roll with slightly more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, cocktails (Larceny Small Batch); neat, old-fashioned (Penelope Rio).