Compare
Penelope Architect vs W.L. Weller Special Reserve
Put Penelope Architect next to W.L. Weller Special Reserve and you have a blender-built, corn-forward bottling set against a classic, high-wheat stalwart.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Penelope Architect | W.L. Weller Special Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Four-Grain Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 7% rye, 15% wheat, 3% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 104 proof (52% ABV) +14 proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$60 – $70 | ~$30 – $60 ~$20 less |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Allocated |
- W.L. Weller Special Reserve does not publish an official mash bill.
- 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.
W.L. Weller Special Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Penelope Architect W.L. Weller Special Reserve
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 6/2 spice: Penelope Architect 6 out of 10, W.L. Weller Special Reserve 2 out of 10
heat 6/3 heat: Penelope Architect 6 out of 10, W.L. Weller Special Reserve 3 out of 10
oak 5/4 oak: Penelope Architect 5 out of 10, W.L. Weller Special Reserve 4 out of 10
fruit 6/5 fruit: Penelope Architect 6 out of 10, W.L. Weller Special Reserve 5 out of 10
sweetness 7/7 sweetness: Penelope Architect 7 out of 10, W.L. Weller Special Reserve 7 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Penelope Architect 3 out of 10, W.L. Weller Special Reserve 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Rye spice is the dividing line 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.
- W.L. Weller Special Reserve: The entry point to the Weller line and an easy introduction to wheated bourbon. Soft honey and vanilla with almost no rye bite, a bread-dough body, and a short, sweet finish that asks nothing of you.
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 W.L. Weller Special Reserve if you want the softest, sweetest, most approachable wheated pour of the group at a lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Penelope Architect); neat, rocks, highball (W.L. Weller Special Reserve).