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Penelope Rio vs Barrell Bourbon (Batch Series)
Put Penelope Rio next to Barrell Bourbon (Batch Series) and you have a blender-built, corn-forward bottling set against a full-proof, unfiltered heavyweight.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Penelope Rio | Barrell Bourbon (Batch Series) |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Four-Grain Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof |
| Mash Bill 1 | 74% corn, 7% rye, 16% wheat, 3% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 98 proof (49% ABV) | 110 proof (55% ABV) +12 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$80 – $100 | ~$80 – $100 |
- Barrell Bourbon (Batch Series) 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.
Barrell Bourbon (Batch Series)
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Penelope Rio Barrell Bourbon (Batch Series)
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 4/8 oak: Penelope Rio 4 out of 10, Barrell Bourbon (Batch Series) 8 out of 10
heat 5/8 heat: Penelope Rio 5 out of 10, Barrell Bourbon (Batch Series) 8 out of 10
sweetness 9/7 sweetness: Penelope Rio 9 out of 10, Barrell Bourbon (Batch Series) 7 out of 10
spice 6/7 spice: Penelope Rio 6 out of 10, Barrell Bourbon (Batch Series) 7 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: Penelope Rio 3 out of 10, Barrell Bourbon (Batch Series) 4 out of 10
fruit 6/6 fruit: Penelope Rio 6 out of 10, Barrell Bourbon (Batch Series) 6 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Oak is doing most of the differentiating here.
- 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.
- Barrell Bourbon (Batch Series): Barrell blends sourced barrels from multiple states and bottles at cask strength, and the batches differ enormously. At their best they show a tropical fruit note that almost nothing else in bourbon delivers.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Penelope Rio if you want a honey-and-amburana-finished bourbon that tastes like a cinnamon roll.
- Go with Barrell Bourbon (Batch Series) if you want an adventurous, cask-strength blend and you accept that each batch is its own animal.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Penelope Rio); neat (Barrell Bourbon (Batch Series)).