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Penelope Rio vs Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon
Penelope Rio and Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: a sourced, classically built blend versus a blender-built, classically built bottling.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Penelope Rio | Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Four-Grain Bourbon | Traditional 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) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +2 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$80 – $100 | ~$85 – $100 |
| Availability | Limited | Widely available easier to find |
- Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 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 Straight Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Penelope Rio Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 4/6 oak: Penelope Rio 4 out of 10, Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 6 out of 10
fruit 6/8 fruit: Penelope Rio 6 out of 10, Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 8 out of 10
nuttiness 3/5 nuttiness: Penelope Rio 3 out of 10, Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 5 out of 10
sweetness 9/8 sweetness: Penelope Rio 9 out of 10, Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 8 out of 10
spice 6/5 spice: Penelope Rio 6 out of 10, Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 5 out of 10
heat 5/5 heat: Penelope Rio 5 out of 10, Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 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 Straight Bourbon: Finished in Oloroso sherry, Pedro Ximenez sherry and Cognac casks. The casks layer dried fruit, orange and dark chocolate over the bourbon and leave a long, clove-spiced finish.
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 Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon if you want a sherry-and-Cognac-finished bourbon full of dried fruit and dark chocolate without hunting for it.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Penelope Rio); neat (Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon).