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Penelope Rio vs Russell’s Reserve 10 Year
Comparing Penelope Rio and Russell’s Reserve 10 Year reveals a matchup between a sourced, even-keeled blend and a traditional, spice-driven Kentucky staple.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Penelope Rio | Russell’s Reserve 10 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Four-Grain Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 74% corn, 7% rye, 16% wheat, 3% malted barley | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 10 years |
| Proof | 98 proof (49% ABV) +8 proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$80 – $100 | ~$40 – $50 ~$45 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.
Russell’s Reserve 10 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Penelope Rio Russell’s Reserve 10 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 4/8 oak: Penelope Rio 4 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 10 Year 8 out of 10
sweetness 9/6 sweetness: Penelope Rio 9 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 10 Year 6 out of 10
fruit 6/4 fruit: Penelope Rio 6 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 10 Year 4 out of 10
heat 5/4 heat: Penelope Rio 5 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 10 Year 4 out of 10
spice 6/6 spice: Penelope Rio 6 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 10 Year 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Penelope Rio 3 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 10 Year 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.
- Russell’s Reserve 10 Year: Ten years of Wild Turkey at a restrained 90 proof, which trades the 101's punch for polish. More oak and more composure, and one of the better age-stated bottles at its price.
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 Russell’s Reserve 10 Year if you want an age-stated, oak-forward Wild Turkey with the volume turned down at a significantly lower price point and without hunting for it.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Penelope Rio); neat, rocks (Russell’s Reserve 10 Year).