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Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style vs Penelope Architect
Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style and Penelope Architect sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, rye-forward classic versus a blender-built, classically built bottling.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style | Penelope Architect |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Four-Grain Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley | 75% corn, 7% rye, 15% wheat, 3% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 115 proof (57.5% ABV) +11 proof | 104 proof (52% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$55 – $70 | ~$60 – $70 |
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Penelope Architect
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style Penelope Architect
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 7/5 oak: Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 7 out of 10, Penelope Architect 5 out of 10
sweetness 8/7 sweetness: Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 8 out of 10, Penelope Architect 7 out of 10
spice 7/6 spice: Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 7 out of 10, Penelope Architect 6 out of 10
fruit 5/6 fruit: Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 5 out of 10, Penelope Architect 6 out of 10
heat 7/6 heat: Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 7 out of 10, Penelope Architect 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 3 out of 10, Penelope Architect 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Barrel influence is the main separator.
- Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style: Dense and syrupy for its age, with molasses and dark chocolate carrying a serious 115-proof punch. The high rye reads as baking spice rather than sharpness, and the body is unusually thick.
- 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 Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style if you want a rich, high-proof, dessert-leaning bourbon with real weight in the glass.
- 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 (Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style); neat, old-fashioned (Penelope Architect).