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Penelope Rio vs Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon
Put Penelope Rio next to Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon and you have a sourced, corn-forward blend set against a contemporary, high-wheat craft build.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Penelope Rio | Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Four-Grain Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 74% corn, 7% rye, 16% wheat, 3% malted barley | 75% corn, 15% wheat, 10% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 4 years |
| Proof | 98 proof (49% ABV) +11 proof | 87 proof (43.5% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$80 – $100 | ~$40 – $45 ~$48 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.
Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon
Didn't care for this one.
Flavor Profile
Penelope Rio Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 6/2 spice: Penelope Rio 6 out of 10, Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon 2 out of 10
sweetness 9/6 sweetness: Penelope Rio 9 out of 10, Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon 6 out of 10
fruit 6/4 fruit: Penelope Rio 6 out of 10, Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon 4 out of 10
heat 5/3 heat: Penelope Rio 5 out of 10, Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon 3 out of 10
oak 4/4 oak: Penelope Rio 4 out of 10, Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon 4 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Penelope Rio 3 out of 10, Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon 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.
- Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon: A farm-to-bottle wheater from northern Illinois. Soft red winter wheat keeps it gentle and bready, with caramel and vanilla up front and very little bite at 87 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 with more proof behind it.
- Go with Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon if you want a soft, easygoing wheated bourbon made start to finish on one Midwest farm at a significantly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Penelope Rio); rocks, highball, cocktails (Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon).