Compare
Penelope Rio vs E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch
Put Penelope Rio next to E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch and you have a sourced, corn-forward blend set against a classic, corn-forward stalwart.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Penelope Rio | E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 98 proof (49% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +2 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$80 – $100 | ~$45 – $90 ~$23 less |
| Availability | Limited easier to find | Allocated |
- E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch 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.
E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Penelope Rio E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 9/6 sweetness: Penelope Rio 9 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch 6 out of 10
oak 4/7 oak: Penelope Rio 4 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch 7 out of 10
spice 6/5 spice: Penelope Rio 6 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch 5 out of 10
fruit 6/5 fruit: Penelope Rio 6 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: Penelope Rio 3 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch 4 out of 10
heat 5/5 heat: Penelope Rio 5 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Sweetness is where these two part ways.
- 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.
- E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch: Bottled-in-bond from the same low-rye Buffalo Trace recipe, and the extra 10 proof over standard BT gives it noticeably more grip. Butterscotch and tobacco with a long, drying finish that outlasts most bottles near its shelf price.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Penelope Rio if you want a honey-and-amburana-finished bourbon that tastes like a cinnamon roll without hunting for it.
- Go with E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch if you want the Buffalo Trace house profile with real structure and a bonded 100-proof backbone at a lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Penelope Rio); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch).