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Penelope Rio vs Jim Beam Black
Penelope Rio and Jim Beam Black sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: a sourced, classically built blend versus an old-guard, rye-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Penelope Rio | Jim Beam Black |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Four-Grain Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 74% corn, 7% rye, 16% wheat, 3% malted barley | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 7 years |
| Proof | 98 proof (49% ABV) +12 proof | 86 proof (43% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$80 – $100 | ~$22 – $28 ~$65 less |
| Availability | Limited | Widely available easier to find |
- Jim Beam Black 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.
Jim Beam Black
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Penelope Rio Jim Beam Black
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 9/6 sweetness: Penelope Rio 9 out of 10, Jim Beam Black 6 out of 10
fruit 6/3 fruit: Penelope Rio 6 out of 10, Jim Beam Black 3 out of 10
nuttiness 3/6 nuttiness: Penelope Rio 3 out of 10, Jim Beam Black 6 out of 10
spice 6/4 spice: Penelope Rio 6 out of 10, Jim Beam Black 4 out of 10
oak 4/6 oak: Penelope Rio 4 out of 10, Jim Beam Black 6 out of 10
heat 5/3 heat: Penelope Rio 5 out of 10, Jim Beam Black 3 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.
- Jim Beam Black: The extra-aged version of the white label and a considerable step up for a few dollars more. Softer and rounder than Knob Creek with the same family peanut note, at a proof that keeps everything gentle.
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 Jim Beam Black if you want the Beam house character at its most affordable and easy-going without hunting for it.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Penelope Rio); neat, rocks, cocktails (Jim Beam Black).