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Penelope Architect vs Old Forester Statesman
Penelope Architect and Old Forester Statesman sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: a sourced, classically built blend versus an old-guard, rye-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Penelope Architect | Old Forester Statesman |
|---|---|---|
| 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) +9 proof | 95 proof (47.5% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$60 – $70 | ~$50 – $55 ~$13 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 Statesman
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Penelope Architect Old Forester Statesman
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 6/4 heat: Penelope Architect 6 out of 10, Old Forester Statesman 4 out of 10
sweetness 7/8 sweetness: Penelope Architect 7 out of 10, Old Forester Statesman 8 out of 10
spice 6/5 spice: Penelope Architect 6 out of 10, Old Forester Statesman 5 out of 10
fruit 6/7 fruit: Penelope Architect 6 out of 10, Old Forester Statesman 7 out of 10
nuttiness 3/2 nuttiness: Penelope Architect 3 out of 10, Old Forester Statesman 2 out of 10
oak 5/5 oak: Penelope Architect 5 out of 10, Old Forester Statesman 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Proof and heat dominate the difference.
- 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 Statesman: Old Forester's fruit-forward middle child, first made for a spy movie tie-in. Bright cherry and brown sugar lead, with cocoa and a touch of the house banana note.
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 slightly more proof behind it.
- Go with Old Forester Statesman if you want a bright, cherry-sweet Old Forester that sits between the 100 and 1920 in weight at a lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Penelope Architect); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Old Forester Statesman).