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Penelope Rio vs Woodford Reserve Double Oaked
Put Penelope Rio next to Woodford Reserve Double Oaked and you have a sourced, corn-forward blend set against a classic, high-rye stalwart.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Penelope Rio | Woodford Reserve Double Oaked |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Four-Grain Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 74% corn, 7% rye, 16% wheat, 3% malted barley | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 98 proof (49% ABV) +8 proof | 90.4 proof (45.2% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$80 – $100 | ~$50 – $62 ~$34 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.
Woodford Reserve Double Oaked
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Penelope Rio Woodford Reserve Double Oaked
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 4/9 oak: Penelope Rio 4 out of 10, Woodford Reserve Double Oaked 9 out of 10
sweetness 9/8 sweetness: Penelope Rio 9 out of 10, Woodford Reserve Double Oaked 8 out of 10
spice 6/5 spice: Penelope Rio 6 out of 10, Woodford Reserve Double Oaked 5 out of 10
fruit 6/5 fruit: Penelope Rio 6 out of 10, Woodford Reserve Double Oaked 5 out of 10
heat 5/4 heat: Penelope Rio 5 out of 10, Woodford Reserve Double Oaked 4 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Penelope Rio 3 out of 10, Woodford Reserve Double Oaked 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.
- Woodford Reserve Double Oaked: A second barrel, deeply toasted, and the result is unashamedly dessert-like. Maple and caramelised sugar with heavy wood — polarising if you want restraint, excellent if you want sweetness.
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 slightly more proof behind it.
- Go with Woodford Reserve Double Oaked if you want an overtly sweet, heavily oaked, dessert-leaning bourbon at a significantly lower price point and without hunting for it.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Penelope Rio); neat, rocks (Woodford Reserve Double Oaked).