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Penelope Architect vs Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat
Penelope Architect and Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: a blender-built, classically built bottling versus a new-wave, wheat-forward craft style.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Penelope Architect | Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Four-Grain Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 75% corn, 7% rye, 15% wheat, 3% malted barley | 53% corn, 39% wheat, 8% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 6 years |
| Proof | 104 proof (52% ABV) | 106 proof (53% ABV) +2 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$60 – $70 | ~$50 – $55 ~$13 less |
- 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 Origin Series High Wheat
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Penelope Architect Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 6/3 spice: Penelope Architect 6 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat 3 out of 10
fruit 6/8 fruit: Penelope Architect 6 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat 8 out of 10
heat 6/5 heat: Penelope Architect 6 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/2 nuttiness: Penelope Architect 3 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat 2 out of 10
sweetness 7/7 sweetness: Penelope Architect 7 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat 7 out of 10
oak 5/5 oak: Penelope Architect 5 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Rye spice is the dividing line 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 Origin Series High Wheat: Because wheat makes up a massive 39% of the mash bill, this pour trades the aggressive spice of rye for a softer, oily mouthfeel. Expect bright fruit notes like ripe apricot and lemon on the nose, transitioning to pastry dough, light oak, and a creamy creme brulee sweetness balanced by a mild peppery backbone.
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.
- Go with Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat if you want a softer, fruit-forward, contemporary profile with a richer, oily texture and lower emphasis on traditional oak at a lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Penelope Architect); neat, rocks (Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat).