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Penelope Architect vs New Riff Bottled-in-Bond
Comparing Penelope Architect and New Riff Bottled-in-Bond reveals a matchup between a sourced, even-keeled blend and a modern, spice-driven craft expression.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Penelope Architect | New Riff Bottled-in-Bond |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Four-Grain Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 75% corn, 7% rye, 15% wheat, 3% malted barley | 65% corn, 30% rye, 5% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 4 years |
| Proof | 104 proof (52% ABV) +4 proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$60 – $70 | ~$38 – $45 ~$24 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.
New Riff Bottled-in-Bond
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Flavor Profile
Penelope Architect New Riff Bottled-in-Bond
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 7/4 sweetness: Penelope Architect 7 out of 10, New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10
spice 6/9 spice: Penelope Architect 6 out of 10, New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 9 out of 10
fruit 6/5 fruit: Penelope Architect 6 out of 10, New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
oak 5/5 oak: Penelope Architect 5 out of 10, New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
heat 6/6 heat: Penelope Architect 6 out of 10, New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Penelope Architect 3 out of 10, New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 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.
- New Riff Bottled-in-Bond: At 30% rye this is about as spice-forward as bourbon gets before becoming rye whiskey. Peppery and herbal with mint and dill, non-chill-filtered for texture, and noticeably dry rather than sweet.
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 New Riff Bottled-in-Bond if you want aggressive rye spice and a dry, herbal profile from a modern craft distillery at a lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Penelope Architect); neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (New Riff Bottled-in-Bond).