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Penelope Rio vs Four Roses Small Batch Select
Put Penelope Rio next to Four Roses Small Batch Select and you have a blender-built, corn-forward bottling set against a classic, high-rye stalwart.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Penelope Rio | Four Roses Small Batch Select |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Four-Grain Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 74% corn, 7% rye, 16% wheat, 3% malted barley | 60% corn, 35% rye, 5% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 6 years |
| Proof | 98 proof (49% ABV) | 104 proof (52% ABV) +6 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$80 – $100 | ~$55 – $65 ~$30 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 Small Batch Select
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Penelope Rio Four Roses Small Batch Select
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 9/6 sweetness: Penelope Rio 9 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10
oak 4/6 oak: Penelope Rio 4 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10
fruit 6/8 fruit: Penelope Rio 6 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch Select 8 out of 10
spice 6/7 spice: Penelope Rio 6 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch Select 7 out of 10
heat 5/6 heat: Penelope Rio 5 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Penelope Rio 3 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch Select 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 Small Batch Select: Six recipes, non-chill-filtered, at 104 proof, and the most complete thing Four Roses makes at a normal price. The house fruit character with enough proof and texture to carry it.
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 Four Roses Small Batch Select if you want the fullest expression of the Four Roses fruit-forward style without chasing an allocated bottle at a significantly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Penelope Rio); neat, rocks (Four Roses Small Batch Select).