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Penelope Rio vs Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof
Put Penelope Rio next to Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof and you have a blender-built, corn-forward bottling set against a full-proof, unfiltered heavyweight.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Penelope Rio | Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Four-Grain Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof |
| Mash Bill 1 | 74% corn, 7% rye, 16% wheat, 3% malted barley | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 13 years |
| Proof | 98 proof (49% ABV) | 123.8 proof (61.9% ABV) +26 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$80 – $100 ~$160 less | ~$200 – $300 |
- Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 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.
Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Penelope Rio Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 4/8 oak: Penelope Rio 4 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 8 out of 10
heat 5/8 heat: Penelope Rio 5 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 8 out of 10
sweetness 9/8 sweetness: Penelope Rio 9 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 8 out of 10
spice 6/6 spice: Penelope Rio 6 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 6 out of 10
fruit 6/6 fruit: Penelope Rio 6 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Penelope Rio 3 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Oak is doing most of the differentiating here.
- 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 13 Year Barrel Proof: Thirteen-year Wild Turkey at full barrel proof, uncut and unfiltered. Cola, molasses and fruit cobbler sit on deep, charred oak, and each release carries its own 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 at a significantly lower price point.
- Go with Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof if you want an old, uncut Wild Turkey with cola, cobbler and serious oak.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Penelope Rio); neat (Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof).