Compare
Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year vs Four Roses Small Batch
Comparing Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year and Four Roses Small Batch reveals a matchup between an uncut, spice-driven heavyweight and a traditional, spice-driven Kentucky staple.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year | Four Roses Small Batch |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon, Barrel Proof | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 70% corn, 25% rye, 5% malted barley | 75% corn, 20% rye, 5% malted barley |
| Age | 7 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 115.2 proof (57.6% ABV) +25 proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$60 – $65 | ~$32 – $38 ~$28 less |
- 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.
Four Roses Small Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year Four Roses Small Batch
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 8/4 heat: Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year 8 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 4 out of 10
oak 7/5 oak: Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year 7 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 5 out of 10
fruit 5/7 fruit: Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year 5 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 7 out of 10
sweetness 7/6 sweetness: Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year 7 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 6 out of 10
spice 7/6 spice: Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year 7 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year 3 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Proof and heat dominate the difference.
- 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.
- Four Roses Small Batch: Four Roses' yeast strains push this toward fruit and florals rather than wood. Red berry and cinnamon over a light body, with the rye showing up as brightness instead of bite.
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 Four Roses Small Batch if you want a fruit-and-floral profile that stands apart from the usual caramel-and-oak template at a lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year); neat, rocks, cocktails (Four Roses Small Batch).