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Penelope Architect vs Elijah Craig Barrel Proof
Put Penelope Architect next to Elijah Craig Barrel Proof and you have a blender-built, corn-forward bottling set against a full-proof, unfiltered heavyweight.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Penelope Architect | Elijah Craig Barrel Proof |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Four-Grain Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof |
| Mash Bill | 75% corn, 7% rye, 15% wheat, 3% malted barley | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 12 years |
| Proof | 104 proof (52% ABV) | 124 proof (62% ABV) +20 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$60 – $70 ~$20 less | ~$70 – $100 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Limited |
- 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.
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Penelope Architect Elijah Craig Barrel Proof
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 5/9 oak: Penelope Architect 5 out of 10, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 9 out of 10
heat 6/9 heat: Penelope Architect 6 out of 10, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 9 out of 10
fruit 6/4 fruit: Penelope Architect 6 out of 10, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 4 out of 10
spice 6/7 spice: Penelope Architect 6 out of 10, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 7 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: Penelope Architect 3 out of 10, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 4 out of 10
sweetness 7/7 sweetness: Penelope Architect 7 out of 10, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 7 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.
- Elijah Craig Barrel Proof: The uncut, unfiltered version of the same 12-year Heaven Hill juice, and the intensity is the whole point. Thick fudge and char with cinnamon heat, a genuinely long finish, and enough proof that water meaningfully changes the glass.
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 lower price point.
- Go with Elijah Craig Barrel Proof if you want maximum intensity and oak depth, and you want to control the dilution yourself.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Penelope Architect); neat (Elijah Craig Barrel Proof).