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Penelope Four Grain vs Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish
Penelope Four Grain and Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: a sourced, classically built blend versus a blender-built, classically built bottling.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Penelope Four Grain | Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Four-Grain Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 74% corn, 7% rye, 16% wheat, 3% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 80 proof (40% ABV) | 91.4 proof (45.7% ABV) +11 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$30 – $40 ~$75 less | ~$90 – $130 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Limited |
- Penelope Four Grain and Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish do not publish an official mash bill.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.
Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Penelope Four Grain Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 3/8 oak: Penelope Four Grain 3 out of 10, Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 8 out of 10
sweetness 6/8 sweetness: Penelope Four Grain 6 out of 10, Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 8 out of 10
heat 2/4 heat: Penelope Four Grain 2 out of 10, Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 4 out of 10
spice 3/4 spice: Penelope Four Grain 3 out of 10, Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 4 out of 10
fruit 5/5 fruit: Penelope Four Grain 5 out of 10, Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 5 out of 10
nuttiness 4/4 nuttiness: Penelope Four Grain 4 out of 10, Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 4 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.
- Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish: The standard Michter's bourbon given a second toasted barrel, which adds sweetness and wood to an already polished pour. Genuinely good, though the price has drifted well past what the liquid alone justifies.
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 Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish if you want the smoothest, most polished toasted-barrel pour here and price is not the deciding factor with more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed highball, cocktails (Penelope Four Grain); neat (Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish).