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Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish vs Penelope Rio
Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish and Penelope Rio sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: a sourced, classically built blend versus a blender-built, classically built bottling.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish | Penelope Rio |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | Four-Grain Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 74% corn, 7% rye, 16% wheat, 3% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 91.4 proof (45.7% ABV) | 98 proof (49% ABV) +7 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$90 – $130 | ~$80 – $100 ~$20 less |
- Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 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
Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Penelope Rio
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish Penelope Rio
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 8/4 oak: Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 8 out of 10, Penelope Rio 4 out of 10
spice 4/6 spice: Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 4 out of 10, Penelope Rio 6 out of 10
sweetness 8/9 sweetness: Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 8 out of 10, Penelope Rio 9 out of 10
fruit 5/6 fruit: Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 5 out of 10, Penelope Rio 6 out of 10
heat 4/5 heat: Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 4 out of 10, Penelope Rio 5 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 4 out of 10, Penelope Rio 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Barrel influence is the main separator.
- Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish: The standard Michter's bourbon given a second toasted barrel, which adds sweetness and wood to an already polished pour. Genuinely good, though the price has drifted well past what the liquid alone justifies.
- 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 Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish if you want the smoothest, most polished toasted-barrel pour here and price is not the deciding factor.
- Go with Penelope Rio if you want a honey-and-amburana-finished bourbon that tastes like a cinnamon roll at a lower price point and with slightly more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed neat (Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish); neat, old-fashioned (Penelope Rio).