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Penelope Four Grain vs Henry McKenna 10 Year Single Barrel
Penelope Four Grain and Henry McKenna 10 Year Single Barrel sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: a sourced, classically built blend versus an old-guard, classically built classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Penelope Four Grain | Henry McKenna 10 Year 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 | 10 years |
| Proof | 80 proof (40% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +20 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$30 – $40 ~$20 less | ~$40 – $70 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Limited |
- Penelope Four Grain 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 Four Grain
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Henry McKenna 10 Year Single Barrel
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Penelope Four Grain Henry McKenna 10 Year Single Barrel
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 3/8 oak: Penelope Four Grain 3 out of 10, Henry McKenna 10 Year Single Barrel 8 out of 10
heat 2/5 heat: Penelope Four Grain 2 out of 10, Henry McKenna 10 Year Single Barrel 5 out of 10
spice 3/5 spice: Penelope Four Grain 3 out of 10, Henry McKenna 10 Year Single Barrel 5 out of 10
fruit 5/4 fruit: Penelope Four Grain 5 out of 10, Henry McKenna 10 Year Single Barrel 4 out of 10
nuttiness 4/5 nuttiness: Penelope Four Grain 4 out of 10, Henry McKenna 10 Year Single Barrel 5 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Penelope Four Grain 6 out of 10, Henry McKenna 10 Year Single Barrel 6 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Barrel influence is the main separator.
- 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.
- Henry McKenna 10 Year Single Barrel: A ten-year bonded single barrel, which is a specification almost nothing else on the shelf matches. Dry and oak-forward with real age showing, though barrel variation means bottles differ more than most.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Penelope Four Grain if you want an easy, light, honeyed bourbon that mixes well at a lower price point and without hunting for it.
- Go with Henry McKenna 10 Year Single Barrel if you want a bonded, ten-year single barrel with genuine age at a sane price with more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed highball, cocktails (Penelope Four Grain); neat, rocks (Henry McKenna 10 Year Single Barrel).