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Penelope Rio vs Larceny Barrel Proof
Penelope Rio and Larceny Barrel Proof sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: a sourced, classically built blend versus an uncut, wheat-forward heavyweight.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Penelope Rio | Larceny Barrel Proof |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Four-Grain Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon, Barrel Proof |
| Mash Bill | 74% corn, 7% rye, 16% wheat, 3% malted barley | 68% corn, 20% wheat, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 98 proof (49% ABV) | 124 proof (62% ABV) +26 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$80 – $100 | ~$55 – $70 ~$28 less |
- 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.
Larceny Barrel Proof
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Penelope Rio Larceny Barrel Proof
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 5/9 heat: Penelope Rio 5 out of 10, Larceny Barrel Proof 9 out of 10
spice 6/3 spice: Penelope Rio 6 out of 10, Larceny Barrel Proof 3 out of 10
oak 4/6 oak: Penelope Rio 4 out of 10, Larceny Barrel Proof 6 out of 10
sweetness 9/9 sweetness: Penelope Rio 9 out of 10, Larceny Barrel Proof 9 out of 10
fruit 6/6 fruit: Penelope Rio 6 out of 10, Larceny Barrel Proof 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Penelope Rio 3 out of 10, Larceny Barrel Proof 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Proof and heat dominate the difference.
- 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.
- Larceny Barrel Proof: The wheated recipe at full barrel strength, and a genuinely dense pour. Thick caramel and baked fruit carry the heat well, and it takes water more gracefully than most bottles at this proof.
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 Larceny Barrel Proof if you want wheated sweetness with barrel-proof concentration, without the Weller price or hunt.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Penelope Rio); neat (Larceny Barrel Proof).