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Penelope Rio vs Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery Series #13
Penelope Rio and Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery Series #13 sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: a sourced, classically built blend versus a blender-built, classically built bottling.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Penelope Rio | Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery Series #13 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 8 years |
| Proof | 98 proof (49% ABV) | 110.8 proof (55.4% ABV) +13 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$80 – $100 ~$50 less | ~$130 – $150 |
- Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery Series #13 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 Rio
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery Series #13
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Penelope Rio Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery Series #13
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 4/7 oak: Penelope Rio 4 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery Series #13 7 out of 10
fruit 6/8 fruit: Penelope Rio 6 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery Series #13 8 out of 10
sweetness 9/8 sweetness: Penelope Rio 9 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery Series #13 8 out of 10
heat 5/6 heat: Penelope Rio 5 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery Series #13 6 out of 10
spice 6/6 spice: Penelope Rio 6 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery Series #13 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Penelope Rio 3 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery Series #13 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Barrel influence is the main separator.
- Penelope Rio: Penelope's four-grain blend finished in honey barrels and then amburana wood. It tastes like a cinnamon roll: honey, gingerbread and sweet baking spice.
- Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery Series #13: Bardstown's annual blend of older sourced bourbons. Rich and dessert-like, with creme brulee, toffee and dark fruit over peppery oak.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Penelope Rio if you want a honey-and-amburana-finished bourbon that tastes like a cinnamon roll at a significantly lower price point.
- Go with Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery Series #13 if you want a rich, dessert-like annual blend of older Kentucky bourbons with more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Penelope Rio); neat (Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery Series #13).