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Penelope Rio vs Wild Turkey 81
Penelope Rio and Wild Turkey 81 sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: a blender-built, classically built bottling versus an old-guard, classically built classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Penelope Rio | Wild Turkey 81 |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Four-Grain Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 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) +17 proof | 81 proof (40.5% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$80 – $100 | ~$20 – $25 ~$68 less |
| Availability | Limited | Widely available easier to find |
- Wild Turkey 81 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.
Wild Turkey 81
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Penelope Rio Wild Turkey 81
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 9/6 sweetness: Penelope Rio 9 out of 10, Wild Turkey 81 6 out of 10
fruit 6/3 fruit: Penelope Rio 6 out of 10, Wild Turkey 81 3 out of 10
heat 5/2 heat: Penelope Rio 5 out of 10, Wild Turkey 81 2 out of 10
spice 6/4 spice: Penelope Rio 6 out of 10, Wild Turkey 81 4 out of 10
nuttiness 3/2 nuttiness: Penelope Rio 3 out of 10, Wild Turkey 81 2 out of 10
oak 4/4 oak: Penelope Rio 4 out of 10, Wild Turkey 81 4 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The clearest split is how sweet each one drinks.
- 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 81: The same mash bill and No. 4 char as Wild Turkey 101, cut to 81 proof. Honey and toffee come through clearly, but the body and spice are much lighter.
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 Wild Turkey 81 if you want a lighter Wild Turkey built for mixing at a significantly lower price point and without hunting for it.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Penelope Rio); highball, cocktails (Wild Turkey 81).