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Penelope Toasted Series vs Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year
Penelope Toasted Series and Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: a blender-built, rye-forward bottling versus an undiluted barrel-strength pour.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Penelope Toasted Series | Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley | 68% corn, 18% rye, 14% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 4 years |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 125.2 proof (62.6% ABV) +25 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$55 – $70 ~$8 less | ~$65 – $75 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Limited |
- Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year 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 Toasted Series
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Penelope Toasted Series Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 5/9 heat: Penelope Toasted Series 5 out of 10, Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year 9 out of 10
oak 7/4 oak: Penelope Toasted Series 7 out of 10, Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year 4 out of 10
fruit 4/6 fruit: Penelope Toasted Series 4 out of 10, Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year 6 out of 10
spice 5/6 spice: Penelope Toasted Series 5 out of 10, Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year 6 out of 10
sweetness 7/7 sweetness: Penelope Toasted Series 7 out of 10, Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year 7 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Penelope Toasted Series 3 out of 10, Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
These two land very differently on the palate for heat.
- 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.
- Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year: Willett's own young distillate at full barrel proof. It is loud and sweet, all caramel corn, pastry and citrus, with a lot of heat for a four-year bourbon. Proof varies by batch.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Penelope Toasted Series if you want a toasty, coffee-and-toffee bourbon from a second-barrel finish at a slightly lower price point and without hunting for it.
- Go with Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year if you want a young, hot, barrel-proof pour that shows off Willett's own distillate.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Penelope Toasted Series); neat (Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year).