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Penelope Rio vs Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend
Put Penelope Rio next to Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend and you have a sourced, corn-forward blend set against a blender-built, high-rye bottling.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Penelope Rio | Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Four-Grain Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 74% corn, 7% rye, 16% wheat, 3% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 98 proof (49% ABV) | 101 proof (50.5% ABV) +3 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$80 – $100 ~$75 less | ~$150 – $180 |
- Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend 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.
Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Penelope Rio Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 4/7 oak: Penelope Rio 4 out of 10, Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend 7 out of 10
fruit 6/9 fruit: Penelope Rio 6 out of 10, Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend 9 out of 10
nuttiness 3/5 nuttiness: Penelope Rio 3 out of 10, Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend 5 out of 10
sweetness 9/8 sweetness: Penelope Rio 9 out of 10, Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend 8 out of 10
spice 6/6 spice: Penelope Rio 6 out of 10, Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend 6 out of 10
heat 5/5 heat: Penelope Rio 5 out of 10, Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend 5 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.
- Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend: Older sourced bourbon finished in sherry, Cognac and then Armagnac casks. Dense dried fruit, fig and orange over cigar leaf and charred oak.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Penelope Rio if you want a honey-and-amburana-finished bourbon that tastes like a cinnamon roll at a significantly lower price point.
- Go with Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend if you want a fruit-packed, multi-cask-finished bourbon built to go with a cigar.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Penelope Rio); neat (Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend).