Compare
Penelope Architect vs Blanton’s Single Barrel
Put Penelope Architect next to Blanton’s Single Barrel and you have a sourced, corn-forward blend set against a classic, high-rye stalwart.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Penelope Architect | Blanton’s Single Barrel |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Four-Grain Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 7% rye, 15% wheat, 3% malted barley | 75% corn, 15% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 104 proof (52% ABV) +11 proof | 93 proof (46.5% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$60 – $70 ~$50 less | ~$80 – $150 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Allocated |
- Blanton’s Single Barrel 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.
Blanton’s Single Barrel
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Penelope Architect Blanton’s Single Barrel
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 6/4 heat: Penelope Architect 6 out of 10, Blanton’s Single Barrel 4 out of 10
sweetness 7/6 sweetness: Penelope Architect 7 out of 10, Blanton’s Single Barrel 6 out of 10
oak 5/6 oak: Penelope Architect 5 out of 10, Blanton’s Single Barrel 6 out of 10
spice 6/6 spice: Penelope Architect 6 out of 10, Blanton’s Single Barrel 6 out of 10
fruit 6/6 fruit: Penelope Architect 6 out of 10, Blanton’s Single Barrel 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Penelope Architect 3 out of 10, Blanton’s Single Barrel 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Proof and heat dominate the difference.
- 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.
- Blanton’s Single Barrel: The bottle that invented the single-barrel category and still trades largely on its horse-stopper cork and its scarcity. The whiskey itself is genuinely good — honeyed and citrus-led with nutmeg spice — but at secondary prices you are paying for the bottle as much as the pour.
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 Blanton’s Single Barrel if you want the original single-barrel presentation and a honeyed, citrus-led profile, and the hunt is part of the appeal.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Penelope Architect); neat, rocks (Blanton’s Single Barrel).