Compare
New Riff Bottled-in-Bond vs Penelope Architect
Comparing New Riff Bottled-in-Bond and Penelope Architect reveals a matchup between a modern, spice-driven craft expression and a blender-built, even-keeled bottling.
Key Specifications
| Feature | New Riff Bottled-in-Bond | Penelope Architect |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Four-Grain Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 65% corn, 30% rye, 5% malted barley | 75% corn, 7% rye, 15% wheat, 3% malted barley |
| Age | 4 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 104 proof (52% ABV) +4 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$38 – $45 ~$24 less | ~$60 – $70 |
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
New Riff Bottled-in-Bond
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Penelope Architect
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
New Riff Bottled-in-Bond Penelope Architect
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 4/7 sweetness: New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10, Penelope Architect 7 out of 10
spice 9/6 spice: New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 9 out of 10, Penelope Architect 6 out of 10
fruit 5/6 fruit: New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, Penelope Architect 6 out of 10
oak 5/5 oak: New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, Penelope Architect 5 out of 10
heat 6/6 heat: New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10, Penelope Architect 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 3 out of 10, Penelope Architect 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Sweetness is where these two part ways.
- New Riff Bottled-in-Bond: At 30% rye this is about as spice-forward as bourbon gets before becoming rye whiskey. Peppery and herbal with mint and dill, non-chill-filtered for texture, and noticeably dry rather than sweet.
- 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 New Riff Bottled-in-Bond if you want aggressive rye spice and a dry, herbal profile from a modern craft distillery at a lower price point.
- Go with Penelope Architect if you want a four-grain bourbon with a French oak finish that adds berries and warm spice.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (New Riff Bottled-in-Bond); neat, old-fashioned (Penelope Architect).