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Penelope Four Grain vs Eagle Rare 12 Year
Comparing Penelope Four Grain and Eagle Rare 12 Year reveals a matchup between a blender-built, even-keeled bottling and a traditional, even-keeled Kentucky staple.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Penelope Four Grain | Eagle Rare 12 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Four-Grain Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 74% corn, 7% rye, 16% wheat, 3% malted barley | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 12 years |
| Proof | 80 proof (40% ABV) | 95 proof (47.5% ABV) +15 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$30 – $40 ~$30 less | ~$50 – $80 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Allocated |
- Penelope Four Grain and Eagle Rare 12 Year do not publish an official mash bill.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 Four Grain
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Eagle Rare 12 Year
Top 3, behind George T. Stagg and Jack Daniel's 14.
Flavor Profile
Penelope Four Grain Eagle Rare 12 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 3/7 oak: Penelope Four Grain 3 out of 10, Eagle Rare 12 Year 7 out of 10
heat 2/5 heat: Penelope Four Grain 2 out of 10, Eagle Rare 12 Year 5 out of 10
spice 3/5 spice: Penelope Four Grain 3 out of 10, Eagle Rare 12 Year 5 out of 10
sweetness 6/7 sweetness: Penelope Four Grain 6 out of 10, Eagle Rare 12 Year 7 out of 10
fruit 5/6 fruit: Penelope Four Grain 5 out of 10, Eagle Rare 12 Year 6 out of 10
nuttiness 4/4 nuttiness: Penelope Four Grain 4 out of 10, Eagle Rare 12 Year 4 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Oak is doing most of the differentiating here.
- Penelope Four Grain: A light, low-proof blend of corn, wheat, rye and barley. Honey, almond and orchard fruit keep it sweet and easy, though it reads young and thin when sipped neat.
- Eagle Rare 12 Year: Two more years and five more proof points than Eagle Rare 10. Brown sugar and toffee lead, with a drier, more astringent oak finish.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Penelope Four Grain if you want an easy, light, honeyed bourbon that mixes well at a significantly lower price point and without hunting for it.
- Go with Eagle Rare 12 Year if you want an older, richer step up from Eagle Rare 10 with more brown sugar and oak with more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed highball, cocktails (Penelope Four Grain); neat, rocks (Eagle Rare 12 Year).