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Penelope Rio vs Four Roses Bourbon
Put Penelope Rio next to Four Roses Bourbon and you have a blender-built, corn-forward bottling set against a classic, high-rye stalwart.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Penelope Rio | Four Roses Bourbon |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Four-Grain Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 74% corn, 7% rye, 16% wheat, 3% malted barley | 75% corn, 20% rye, 5% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 98 proof (49% ABV) +18 proof | 80 proof (40% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$80 – $100 | ~$22 – $28 ~$65 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.
Four Roses Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Penelope Rio Four Roses Bourbon
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 9/6 sweetness: Penelope Rio 9 out of 10, Four Roses Bourbon 6 out of 10
heat 5/2 heat: Penelope Rio 5 out of 10, Four Roses Bourbon 2 out of 10
spice 6/5 spice: Penelope Rio 6 out of 10, Four Roses Bourbon 5 out of 10
oak 4/3 oak: Penelope Rio 4 out of 10, Four Roses Bourbon 3 out of 10
fruit 6/6 fruit: Penelope Rio 6 out of 10, Four Roses Bourbon 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Penelope Rio 3 out of 10, Four Roses Bourbon 3 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.
- Four Roses Bourbon: The yellow label entry point, blending all ten Four Roses recipes at a gentle 80 proof. Light and fruity to a fault, but the house floral character is already recognisable and it mixes beautifully.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Penelope Rio if you want a honey-and-amburana-finished bourbon that tastes like a cinnamon roll with more proof behind it.
- Go with Four Roses Bourbon if you want the Four Roses fruit-and-floral signature at its lightest and cheapest without hunting for it.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Penelope Rio); cocktails, highball, rocks (Four Roses Bourbon).