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Penelope Architect vs David Nicholson Reserve
Penelope Architect and David Nicholson Reserve sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: a sourced, classically built blend versus a blender-built, classically built bottling.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Penelope Architect | David Nicholson Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | No age statement |
| Proof | 104 proof (52% ABV) +4 proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$60 – $70 | ~$30 – $40 ~$30 less |
- David Nicholson Reserve 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.
David Nicholson Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Penelope Architect David Nicholson Reserve
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 6/3 fruit: Penelope Architect 6 out of 10, David Nicholson Reserve 3 out of 10
sweetness 7/5 sweetness: Penelope Architect 7 out of 10, David Nicholson Reserve 5 out of 10
oak 5/6 oak: Penelope Architect 5 out of 10, David Nicholson Reserve 6 out of 10
heat 6/5 heat: Penelope Architect 6 out of 10, David Nicholson Reserve 5 out of 10
spice 6/6 spice: Penelope Architect 6 out of 10, David Nicholson Reserve 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Penelope Architect 3 out of 10, David Nicholson Reserve 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Fruit character is what sets these apart.
- 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.
- David Nicholson Reserve: The rye-recipe sibling to the 1843, with extra age. Toasty oak and rye spice give it more backbone, and the spice stays put through a long, warm finish.
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 David Nicholson Reserve if you want a toasty, spicy, 100-proof value bourbon that stands up in cocktails.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Penelope Architect); old-fashioned, cocktails, rocks (David Nicholson Reserve).