Compare
Penelope Architect vs Bulleit Bourbon
Comparing Penelope Architect and Bulleit Bourbon reveals a matchup between a sourced, even-keeled blend and a blender-built, spice-driven bottling.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Penelope Architect | Bulleit Bourbon |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Four-Grain Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 75% corn, 7% rye, 15% wheat, 3% malted barley | 68% corn, 28% rye, 4% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 104 proof (52% ABV) +14 proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$60 – $70 | ~$25 – $32 ~$37 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.
Bulleit Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Penelope Architect Bulleit Bourbon
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 7/5 sweetness: Penelope Architect 7 out of 10, Bulleit Bourbon 5 out of 10
heat 6/4 heat: Penelope Architect 6 out of 10, Bulleit Bourbon 4 out of 10
spice 6/7 spice: Penelope Architect 6 out of 10, Bulleit Bourbon 7 out of 10
fruit 6/5 fruit: Penelope Architect 6 out of 10, Bulleit Bourbon 5 out of 10
oak 5/5 oak: Penelope Architect 5 out of 10, Bulleit Bourbon 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Penelope Architect 3 out of 10, Bulleit Bourbon 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Sweetness is where these two part ways.
- 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.
- Bulleit Bourbon: The bottle that put high-rye bourbon in every cocktail bar in the country. Peppery and dry with the familiar MGP dill note, and it earns its place behind the bar more than in a glass on its own.
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 with more proof behind it.
- Go with Bulleit Bourbon if you want a dry, peppery, high-rye bourbon built for cocktails and available absolutely everywhere at a significantly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Penelope Architect); old-fashioned, cocktails, highball (Bulleit Bourbon).