Compare
Old Grand-Dad Bonded vs Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year
Put Old Grand-Dad Bonded next to Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year and you have a classic, high-rye stalwart set against an uncut, high-rye heavyweight.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Old Grand-Dad Bonded | Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon, Barrel Proof |
| Mash Bill 1 | 63% corn, 27% rye, 10% malted barley | 70% corn, 25% rye, 5% malted barley |
| Age | 4 years | 7 years +3 yr |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 115.2 proof (57.6% ABV) +15 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$24 – $30 ~$36 less | ~$60 – $65 |
- Old Grand-Dad Bonded 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
Old Grand-Dad Bonded
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Old Grand-Dad Bonded Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 5/7 sweetness: Old Grand-Dad Bonded 5 out of 10, Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year 7 out of 10
oak 5/7 oak: Old Grand-Dad Bonded 5 out of 10, Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year 7 out of 10
heat 6/8 heat: Old Grand-Dad Bonded 6 out of 10, Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year 8 out of 10
nuttiness 5/3 nuttiness: Old Grand-Dad Bonded 5 out of 10, Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year 3 out of 10
spice 8/7 spice: Old Grand-Dad Bonded 8 out of 10, Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year 7 out of 10
fruit 4/5 fruit: Old Grand-Dad Bonded 4 out of 10, Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The clearest split is how sweet each one drinks.
- Old Grand-Dad Bonded: A bonded 100-proof high-rye bourbon for the price of a mixer, and one of the great bargains on the shelf. Cleaner and less overwhelming than the 114 while keeping the peppery rye backbone.
- Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year: Penelope's uncut flagship, now with a seven-year age statement. It is richer and spicier than the Four Grain, with caramel and rye spice carried by a lot of proof.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Old Grand-Dad Bonded if you want a bonded, high-rye workhorse at mixer money.
- Go with Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year if you want a well-priced, seven-year, uncut blend with real depth and spice with an older age statement and with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (Old Grand-Dad Bonded); neat, old-fashioned (Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year).