Compare
Penelope Rio vs Elijah Craig Small Batch
Comparing Penelope Rio and Elijah Craig Small Batch reveals a matchup between a blender-built, even-keeled bottling and a traditional, even-keeled Kentucky staple.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Penelope Rio | Elijah Craig Small Batch |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Four-Grain Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 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) +4 proof | 94 proof (47% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$80 – $100 | ~$28 – $35 ~$59 less |
| Availability | Limited | Widely available easier to find |
- 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.
Elijah Craig Small Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Penelope Rio Elijah Craig Small Batch
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 9/6 sweetness: Penelope Rio 9 out of 10, Elijah Craig Small Batch 6 out of 10
oak 4/7 oak: Penelope Rio 4 out of 10, Elijah Craig Small Batch 7 out of 10
fruit 6/4 fruit: Penelope Rio 6 out of 10, Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10
spice 6/5 spice: Penelope Rio 6 out of 10, Elijah Craig Small Batch 5 out of 10
heat 5/4 heat: Penelope Rio 5 out of 10, Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: Penelope Rio 3 out of 10, Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The clearest split is how sweet each one drinks.
- 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.
- Elijah Craig Small Batch: A heavily oak-driven pour for the money, with vanilla bean and brown sugar riding on top of real char and smoke. The extra age shows up as wood depth rather than harshness.
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 Elijah Craig Small Batch if you want the best oak-forward value on the shelf, with more wood character than its price suggests.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Penelope Rio); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Elijah Craig Small Batch).