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Penelope Architect vs Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year
Penelope Architect and Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: a sourced, classically built blend versus an uncut, rye-forward heavyweight.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Penelope Architect | Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Four-Grain Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon, Barrel Proof |
| Mash Bill | 75% corn, 7% rye, 15% wheat, 3% malted barley | 70% corn, 25% rye, 5% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 7 years |
| Proof | 104 proof (52% ABV) | 115.2 proof (57.6% ABV) +11 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$60 – $70 | ~$60 – $65 |
- 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.
Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Penelope Architect Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 5/7 oak: Penelope Architect 5 out of 10, Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year 7 out of 10
heat 6/8 heat: Penelope Architect 6 out of 10, Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year 8 out of 10
spice 6/7 spice: Penelope Architect 6 out of 10, Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year 7 out of 10
fruit 6/5 fruit: Penelope Architect 6 out of 10, Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year 5 out of 10
sweetness 7/7 sweetness: Penelope Architect 7 out of 10, Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year 7 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Penelope Architect 3 out of 10, Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year 3 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.
- Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year: Penelope's uncut flagship, now with a seven-year age statement. It is richer and spicier than the Four Grain, with caramel and rye spice carried by a lot of proof.
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 Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year if you want a well-priced, seven-year, uncut blend with real depth and spice.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Penelope Architect); neat, old-fashioned (Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year).