Compare
Penelope Architect vs Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery Series #13
Penelope Architect and Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery Series #13 sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: a blender-built, classically built bottling versus a sourced, classically built blend.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Penelope Architect | Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery Series #13 |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Four-Grain Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 7% rye, 15% wheat, 3% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | No age statement | 8 years |
| Proof | 104 proof (52% ABV) | 110.8 proof (55.4% ABV) +7 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$60 – $70 ~$75 less | ~$130 – $150 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Limited |
- Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery Series #13 does not publish an official mash bill.
- US shelf prices as of 2026-10; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Penelope Architect
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery Series #13
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Penelope Architect Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery Series #13
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 5/7 oak: Penelope Architect 5 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery Series #13 7 out of 10
fruit 6/8 fruit: Penelope Architect 6 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery Series #13 8 out of 10
sweetness 7/8 sweetness: Penelope Architect 7 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery Series #13 8 out of 10
spice 6/6 spice: Penelope Architect 6 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery Series #13 6 out of 10
heat 6/6 heat: Penelope Architect 6 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery Series #13 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Penelope Architect 3 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery Series #13 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Oak is doing most of the differentiating here.
- 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.
- Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery Series #13: Bardstown's annual blend of older sourced bourbons. Rich and dessert-like, with creme brulee, toffee and dark fruit over peppery oak.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Penelope Architect if you want a four-grain bourbon with a French oak finish that adds berries and warm spice at a significantly lower price point.
- Go with Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery Series #13 if you want a rich, dessert-like annual blend of older Kentucky bourbons with slightly more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Penelope Architect); neat (Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery Series #13).