Compare
Penelope Architect vs Russell’s Reserve 10 Year
Put Penelope Architect next to Russell’s Reserve 10 Year and you have a blender-built, corn-forward bottling set against a classic, high-rye stalwart.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Penelope Architect | Russell’s Reserve 10 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Four-Grain Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 75% corn, 7% rye, 15% wheat, 3% malted barley | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 10 years |
| Proof | 104 proof (52% ABV) +14 proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$60 – $70 | ~$40 – $50 ~$20 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.
Russell’s Reserve 10 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Penelope Architect Russell’s Reserve 10 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 5/8 oak: Penelope Architect 5 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 10 Year 8 out of 10
fruit 6/4 fruit: Penelope Architect 6 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 10 Year 4 out of 10
heat 6/4 heat: Penelope Architect 6 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 10 Year 4 out of 10
sweetness 7/6 sweetness: Penelope Architect 7 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 10 Year 6 out of 10
spice 6/6 spice: Penelope Architect 6 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 10 Year 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Penelope Architect 3 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 10 Year 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Oak is doing most of the differentiating here.
- 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.
- Russell’s Reserve 10 Year: Ten years of Wild Turkey at a restrained 90 proof, which trades the 101's punch for polish. More oak and more composure, and one of the better age-stated bottles at its price.
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 more proof behind it.
- Go with Russell’s Reserve 10 Year if you want an age-stated, oak-forward Wild Turkey with the volume turned down at a lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Penelope Architect); neat, rocks (Russell’s Reserve 10 Year).