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Penelope Rio vs Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel
Put Penelope Rio next to Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel and you have a sourced, corn-forward blend set against a classic, high-rye stalwart.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Penelope Rio | Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | No age statement |
| Proof | 98 proof (49% ABV) | 110 proof (55% ABV) +12 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.
Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Penelope Rio Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 4/8 oak: Penelope Rio 4 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 8 out of 10
sweetness 9/6 sweetness: Penelope Rio 9 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 6 out of 10
spice 6/8 spice: Penelope Rio 6 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 8 out of 10
fruit 6/4 fruit: Penelope Rio 6 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 4 out of 10
heat 5/7 heat: Penelope Rio 5 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 7 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Penelope Rio 3 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 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 Single Barrel: Non-chill-filtered single barrels at 110 proof, and the format that store picks have made a cult of. Concentrated Wild Turkey character with a texture the standard bottlings do not have.
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 Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel if you want concentrated Wild Turkey character with single-barrel variation and real texture at a lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Penelope Rio); neat, old-fashioned (Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel).