Compare
Penelope Architect vs Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve
Comparing Penelope Architect and Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve reveals a matchup between a blender-built, even-keeled bottling and a traditional, spice-driven Kentucky staple.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Penelope Architect | Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Four-Grain Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 7% rye, 15% wheat, 3% malted barley | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 9 years |
| Proof | 104 proof (52% ABV) | 120 proof (60% ABV) +16 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$60 – $70 | ~$45 – $55 ~$15 less |
- Knob Creek Single Barrel 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.
Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Penelope Architect Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
nuttiness 3/7 nuttiness: Penelope Architect 3 out of 10, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 7 out of 10
oak 5/8 oak: Penelope Architect 5 out of 10, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 8 out of 10
fruit 6/3 fruit: Penelope Architect 6 out of 10, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 3 out of 10
heat 6/8 heat: Penelope Architect 6 out of 10, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 8 out of 10
sweetness 7/6 sweetness: Penelope Architect 7 out of 10, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 6 out of 10
spice 6/7 spice: Penelope Architect 6 out of 10, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 7 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The house grain character is what splits these.
- 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.
- Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve: The same nine-year Knob Creek juice bottled from a single barrel at 120 proof, and the extra strength suits it. Everything the standard bottling does, turned up — with the barrel-to-barrel variation that comes with the format.
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 Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve if you want the Beam profile at serious proof for well under what most barrel-strength bourbons cost.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Penelope Architect); neat, old-fashioned (Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve).