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Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year vs Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series
Comparing Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year and Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series reveals a matchup between an uncut, spice-driven heavyweight and a modern, even-keeled craft expression.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year | Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon, Barrel Proof | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 70% corn, 25% rye, 5% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | 7 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 115.2 proof (57.6% ABV) +16 proof | 98.9 proof (49.5% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$60 – $65 | ~$55 – $70 |
- Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series 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 Barrel Strength 7 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 8/5 heat: Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year 8 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series 5 out of 10
spice 7/5 spice: Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year 7 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series 5 out of 10
oak 7/6 oak: Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year 7 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series 6 out of 10
fruit 5/6 fruit: Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year 5 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series 6 out of 10
sweetness 7/7 sweetness: Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year 7 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series 7 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year 3 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
These two land very differently on the palate for heat.
- 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.
- Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series: A blend of Bardstown's own young distillate with older sourced Kentucky whiskey, which is exactly what the name describes. Polished and fruit-leaning, and a clear demonstration that the blending is the skill on show.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year if you want a well-priced, seven-year, uncut blend with real depth and spice with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
- Go with Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series if you want a well-built modern blend that shows what careful blending does rather than what age alone does.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year); neat, rocks (Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series).