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Penelope Four Grain vs E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel
Penelope Four Grain and E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: a blender-built, classically built bottling versus an old-guard, classically built classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Penelope Four Grain | E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | No age statement |
| Proof | 80 proof (40% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +20 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$30 – $40 ~$70 less | ~$70 – $140 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Allocated |
- Penelope Four Grain and E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel do not publish an official mash bill.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.
E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Penelope Four Grain E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 3/8 oak: Penelope Four Grain 3 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel 8 out of 10
heat 2/5 heat: Penelope Four Grain 2 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel 5 out of 10
spice 3/5 spice: Penelope Four Grain 3 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel 5 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Penelope Four Grain 6 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel 6 out of 10
fruit 5/5 fruit: Penelope Four Grain 5 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel 5 out of 10
nuttiness 4/4 nuttiness: Penelope Four Grain 4 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel 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.
- E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel: Single barrels from the warehouse Colonel Taylor built, bonded at 100 proof. More oak and more concentration than the small batch, and one of the most sought-after regular releases Buffalo Trace makes.
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 E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel if you want the most concentrated bonded expression of the Buffalo Trace profile, and the hunt does not deter you with more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed highball, cocktails (Penelope Four Grain); neat (E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel).