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Penelope Rio vs Wild Turkey 101
Put Penelope Rio next to Wild Turkey 101 and you have a sourced, corn-forward blend set against a classic, high-rye stalwart.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Penelope Rio | Wild Turkey 101 |
|---|---|---|
| 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) | 101 proof (50.5% ABV) +3 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$80 – $100 | ~$25 – $30 ~$63 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.
Wild Turkey 101
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Penelope Rio Wild Turkey 101
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 9/6 sweetness: Penelope Rio 9 out of 10, Wild Turkey 101 6 out of 10
oak 4/7 oak: Penelope Rio 4 out of 10, Wild Turkey 101 7 out of 10
spice 6/8 spice: Penelope Rio 6 out of 10, Wild Turkey 101 8 out of 10
fruit 6/4 fruit: Penelope Rio 6 out of 10, Wild Turkey 101 4 out of 10
heat 5/6 heat: Penelope Rio 5 out of 10, Wild Turkey 101 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Penelope Rio 3 out of 10, Wild Turkey 101 3 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.
- Wild Turkey 101: The workhorse high-rye Kentucky bourbon and one of the best proof-to-price ratios anywhere. Vanilla and orange up front, then a genuinely spicy, peppery, tobacco-tinged middle that punches well above $25.
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 Wild Turkey 101 if you want bold rye spice and real proof at the lowest price of anything comparable without hunting for it.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Penelope Rio); neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Wild Turkey 101).