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Penelope Architect vs Old Forester 100 Proof
Penelope Architect and Old Forester 100 Proof sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: a blender-built, classically built bottling versus an old-guard, rye-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Penelope Architect | Old Forester 100 Proof |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Four-Grain Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 75% corn, 7% rye, 15% wheat, 3% malted barley | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 104 proof (52% ABV) +4 proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$60 – $70 | ~$26 – $32 ~$36 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.
Old Forester 100 Proof
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Penelope Architect Old Forester 100 Proof
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 5/6 oak: Penelope Architect 5 out of 10, Old Forester 100 Proof 6 out of 10
fruit 6/5 fruit: Penelope Architect 6 out of 10, Old Forester 100 Proof 5 out of 10
heat 6/5 heat: Penelope Architect 6 out of 10, Old Forester 100 Proof 5 out of 10
sweetness 7/7 sweetness: Penelope Architect 7 out of 10, Old Forester 100 Proof 7 out of 10
spice 6/6 spice: Penelope Architect 6 out of 10, Old Forester 100 Proof 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Penelope Architect 3 out of 10, Old Forester 100 Proof 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
These two land close together on every flavor axis — the differences are in texture and proof more than character.
- 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.
- Old Forester 100 Proof: The bottle most people should buy from this range: the same recipe as the 86 with enough proof to actually taste it. One of the strongest arguments on the shelf for spending six dollars more.
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 Old Forester 100 Proof if you want the best value in the Old Forester range and a superb old-fashioned base.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Penelope Architect); neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Old Forester 100 Proof).