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Penelope Rio vs Kentucky Owl Batch 12
Penelope Rio and Kentucky Owl Batch 12 sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: a sourced, classically built blend versus an undiluted barrel-strength pour.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Penelope Rio | Kentucky Owl Batch 12 |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Four-Grain Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof |
| 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) | 115.8 proof (57.9% ABV) +18 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$80 – $100 ~$260 less | ~$300 – $400 |
- Kentucky Owl Batch 12 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.
Kentucky Owl Batch 12
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Penelope Rio Kentucky Owl Batch 12
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 4/8 oak: Penelope Rio 4 out of 10, Kentucky Owl Batch 12 8 out of 10
sweetness 9/6 sweetness: Penelope Rio 9 out of 10, Kentucky Owl Batch 12 6 out of 10
fruit 6/4 fruit: Penelope Rio 6 out of 10, Kentucky Owl Batch 12 4 out of 10
heat 5/7 heat: Penelope Rio 5 out of 10, Kentucky Owl Batch 12 7 out of 10
spice 6/7 spice: Penelope Rio 6 out of 10, Kentucky Owl Batch 12 7 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Penelope Rio 3 out of 10, Kentucky Owl Batch 12 3 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.
- Kentucky Owl Batch 12: A high-end blend of young and older sourced Kentucky bourbons. Leather, smoky oak and caramel, with a peppery, spice-forward palate.
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 Kentucky Owl Batch 12 if you want a spicy, leathery, high-end blended bourbon with more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Penelope Rio); neat (Kentucky Owl Batch 12).