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Penelope Architect vs Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel
Comparing Penelope Architect and Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel reveals a matchup between a blender-built, even-keeled bottling and a traditional, spice-driven Kentucky staple.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Penelope Architect | Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | No age statement |
| Proof | 104 proof (52% ABV) | 110 proof (55% ABV) +6 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$60 – $70 | ~$55 – $70 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Limited |
- 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 Single Barrel
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Penelope Architect Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 5/8 oak: Penelope Architect 5 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 8 out of 10
spice 6/8 spice: Penelope Architect 6 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 8 out of 10
fruit 6/4 fruit: Penelope Architect 6 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 4 out of 10
sweetness 7/6 sweetness: Penelope Architect 7 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 6 out of 10
heat 6/7 heat: Penelope Architect 6 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 7 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Penelope Architect 3 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 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 Single Barrel: Non-chill-filtered single barrels at 110 proof, and the format that store picks have made a cult of. Concentrated Wild Turkey character with a texture the standard bottlings do not have.
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 without hunting for it.
- Go with Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel if you want concentrated Wild Turkey character with single-barrel variation and real texture with slightly more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Penelope Architect); neat, old-fashioned (Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel).