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Penelope Rio vs Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel
Put Penelope Rio next to Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel and you have a sourced, corn-forward blend set against a classic, corn-forward stalwart.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Penelope Rio | Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | ~$60 – $80 ~$20 less |
- 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 Toasted Barrel
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Penelope Rio Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 4/9 oak: Penelope Rio 4 out of 10, Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 9 out of 10
fruit 6/4 fruit: Penelope Rio 6 out of 10, Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 4 out of 10
nuttiness 3/5 nuttiness: Penelope Rio 3 out of 10, Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 5 out of 10
sweetness 9/8 sweetness: Penelope Rio 9 out of 10, Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 8 out of 10
spice 6/5 spice: Penelope Rio 6 out of 10, Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 5 out of 10
heat 5/4 heat: Penelope Rio 5 out of 10, Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 4 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.
- Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel: Finished in a second toasted (not charred) barrel, which produces an unmistakable toasted-marshmallow note. Sweet and heavily wooded, and one of the more distinctive finishes any major producer makes.
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 Toasted Barrel if you want a distinctive toasted-oak, marshmallow-sweet finish you will not find in a standard bourbon at a lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Penelope Rio); neat, rocks (Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel).