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Penelope Architect vs Elijah Craig Small Batch
Comparing Penelope Architect and Elijah Craig Small Batch reveals a matchup between a sourced, even-keeled blend and a traditional, even-keeled Kentucky staple.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Penelope Architect | Elijah Craig Small Batch |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Four-Grain Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 75% corn, 7% rye, 15% wheat, 3% malted barley | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 104 proof (52% ABV) +10 proof | 94 proof (47% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$60 – $70 | ~$28 – $35 ~$34 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.
Elijah Craig Small Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Penelope Architect Elijah Craig Small Batch
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 5/7 oak: Penelope Architect 5 out of 10, Elijah Craig Small Batch 7 out of 10
fruit 6/4 fruit: Penelope Architect 6 out of 10, Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10
heat 6/4 heat: Penelope Architect 6 out of 10, Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10
sweetness 7/6 sweetness: Penelope Architect 7 out of 10, Elijah Craig Small Batch 6 out of 10
spice 6/5 spice: Penelope Architect 6 out of 10, Elijah Craig Small Batch 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: Penelope Architect 3 out of 10, Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Barrel influence is the main separator.
- 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 Small Batch: A heavily oak-driven pour for the money, with vanilla bean and brown sugar riding on top of real char and smoke. The extra age shows up as wood depth rather than harshness.
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 Elijah Craig Small Batch if you want the best oak-forward value on the shelf, with more wood character than its price suggests.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Penelope Architect); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Elijah Craig Small Batch).