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Penelope Rio vs Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond
Comparing Penelope Rio and Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond reveals a matchup between a sourced, even-keeled blend and a traditional, even-keeled Kentucky staple.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Penelope Rio | Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Four-Grain Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 74% corn, 7% rye, 16% wheat, 3% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | No age statement | 4 years |
| Proof | 98 proof (49% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +2 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$80 – $100 | ~$16 – $22 ~$71 less |
| Availability | Limited | Widely available easier to find |
- Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 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.
Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Penelope Rio Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 9/6 sweetness: Penelope Rio 9 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10
fruit 6/4 fruit: Penelope Rio 6 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10
spice 6/5 spice: Penelope Rio 6 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
oak 4/5 oak: Penelope Rio 4 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: Penelope Rio 3 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10
heat 5/5 heat: Penelope Rio 5 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Sweetness is where these two part ways.
- 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.
- Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond: A bonded 100-proof bourbon at a price that barely seems possible, though distribution is patchy outside Kentucky. Unremarkable in the best way: it does everything a bourbon should and nothing extra.
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 Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond if you want a bonded Kentucky bourbon for under twenty dollars, if you can find it in your state.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Penelope Rio); neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond).