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Penelope Rio vs New Riff 8 Year
Comparing Penelope Rio and New Riff 8 Year reveals a matchup between a blender-built, even-keeled bottling and a modern, spice-driven craft expression.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Penelope Rio | New Riff 8 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Four-Grain Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 74% corn, 7% rye, 16% wheat, 3% malted barley | 65% corn, 30% rye, 5% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 8 years |
| Proof | 98 proof (49% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +2 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$80 – $100 | ~$65 – $70 ~$23 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.
New Riff 8 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Penelope Rio New Riff 8 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 9/6 sweetness: Penelope Rio 9 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 6 out of 10
oak 4/7 oak: Penelope Rio 4 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 7 out of 10
spice 6/8 spice: Penelope Rio 6 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 8 out of 10
fruit 6/5 fruit: Penelope Rio 6 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 5 out of 10
heat 5/5 heat: Penelope Rio 5 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Penelope Rio 3 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The clearest split is how sweet each one drinks.
- 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.
- New Riff 8 Year: The older, deeper version of New Riff's bonded bourbon. Same 30% rye recipe, but eight years add richer oak and darker sugar while keeping the spice front and center.
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 New Riff 8 Year if you want an older, deeper take on New Riff's spicy high-rye recipe at a lower price point and without hunting for it.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Penelope Rio); neat, old-fashioned (New Riff 8 Year).