Compare
Penelope Rio vs Rebel 100
Penelope Rio and Rebel 100 sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: a sourced, classically built blend versus a blender-built, wheat-forward bottling.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Penelope Rio | Rebel 100 |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Four-Grain Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 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) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +2 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$80 – $100 | ~$20 – $25 ~$68 less |
| Availability | Limited | Widely available easier to find |
- Rebel 100 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.
Rebel 100
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Penelope Rio Rebel 100
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 6/2 spice: Penelope Rio 6 out of 10, Rebel 100 2 out of 10
sweetness 9/7 sweetness: Penelope Rio 9 out of 10, Rebel 100 7 out of 10
fruit 6/4 fruit: Penelope Rio 6 out of 10, Rebel 100 4 out of 10
oak 4/4 oak: Penelope Rio 4 out of 10, Rebel 100 4 out of 10
heat 5/5 heat: Penelope Rio 5 out of 10, Rebel 100 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Penelope Rio 3 out of 10, Rebel 100 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The gap between these two is mostly about spice.
- 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.
- Rebel 100: A budget wheater at a useful proof. Sweet vanilla, honey and caramel with soft bread notes and very little rye bite.
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 Rebel 100 if you want a sweet, 100-proof wheater for mixing and easy sipping at a significantly lower price point and without hunting for it.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Penelope Rio); rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Rebel 100).