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Penelope Toasted Series vs Four Roses Small Batch Select
On paper Penelope Toasted Series and Four Roses Small Batch Select are near neighbours — both high-rye bourbons — so proof (100 vs. 104) is what actually decides it.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Penelope Toasted Series | Four Roses Small Batch Select |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 75% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley | 60% corn, 35% rye, 5% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 6 years |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 104 proof (52% ABV) +4 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$55 – $70 | ~$55 – $65 |
- US shelf prices as of 2026-10; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Penelope Toasted Series
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Four Roses Small Batch Select
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Penelope Toasted Series Four Roses Small Batch Select
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 4/8 fruit: Penelope Toasted Series 4 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch Select 8 out of 10
spice 5/7 spice: Penelope Toasted Series 5 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch Select 7 out of 10
sweetness 7/6 sweetness: Penelope Toasted Series 7 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10
oak 7/6 oak: Penelope Toasted Series 7 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10
heat 5/6 heat: Penelope Toasted Series 5 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Penelope Toasted Series 3 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch Select 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The fruit-versus-grain contrast drives this one.
- Penelope Toasted Series: Finished in a second, freshly toasted barrel, which pushes it toward toffee, roasted coffee and darker oak. The toast level changes from batch to batch.
- Four Roses Small Batch Select: Six recipes, non-chill-filtered, at 104 proof, and the most complete thing Four Roses makes at a normal price. The house fruit character with enough proof and texture to carry it.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Penelope Toasted Series if you want a toasty, coffee-and-toffee bourbon from a second-barrel finish.
- Go with Four Roses Small Batch Select if you want the fullest expression of the Four Roses fruit-forward style without chasing an allocated bottle.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Penelope Toasted Series); neat, rocks (Four Roses Small Batch Select).