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Penelope Rio vs Journeyman Featherbone Bourbon
Comparing Penelope Rio and Journeyman Featherbone Bourbon reveals a matchup between a sourced, even-keeled blend and a modern, wheated craft expression.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Penelope Rio | Journeyman Featherbone Bourbon |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Four-Grain Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 74% corn, 7% rye, 16% wheat, 3% malted barley | 70% corn, 5% rye, 25% wheat |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 98 proof (49% ABV) +8 proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$80 – $100 | ~$45 – $55 ~$40 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.
Journeyman Featherbone Bourbon
Didn't care for this one.
Flavor Profile
Penelope Rio Journeyman Featherbone Bourbon
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 9/6 sweetness: Penelope Rio 9 out of 10, Journeyman Featherbone Bourbon 6 out of 10
spice 6/4 spice: Penelope Rio 6 out of 10, Journeyman Featherbone Bourbon 4 out of 10
fruit 6/4 fruit: Penelope Rio 6 out of 10, Journeyman Featherbone Bourbon 4 out of 10
nuttiness 3/2 nuttiness: Penelope Rio 3 out of 10, Journeyman Featherbone Bourbon 2 out of 10
oak 4/4 oak: Penelope Rio 4 out of 10, Journeyman Featherbone Bourbon 4 out of 10
heat 5/5 heat: Penelope Rio 5 out of 10, Journeyman Featherbone Bourbon 5 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.
- Journeyman Featherbone Bourbon: An organic, wheat-heavy bourbon from a Michigan craft distillery. It stays round and caramel sweet on the palate with a peppery edge, while the nose is quiet and still a little young.
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 slightly more proof behind it.
- Go with Journeyman Featherbone Bourbon if you want an organic, Midwest craft wheater with a round, caramel-forward body at a significantly lower price point and without hunting for it.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Penelope Rio); rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Journeyman Featherbone Bourbon).