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Russell’s Reserve 10 Year vs Penelope Architect
Put Russell’s Reserve 10 Year next to Penelope Architect and you have a classic, high-rye stalwart set against a sourced, corn-forward blend.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Russell’s Reserve 10 Year | Penelope Architect |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Four-Grain Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | 75% corn, 7% rye, 15% wheat, 3% malted barley |
| Age | 10 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 104 proof (52% ABV) +14 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$40 – $50 ~$20 less | ~$60 – $70 |
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Russell’s Reserve 10 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Penelope Architect
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Russell’s Reserve 10 Year Penelope Architect
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 8/5 oak: Russell’s Reserve 10 Year 8 out of 10, Penelope Architect 5 out of 10
fruit 4/6 fruit: Russell’s Reserve 10 Year 4 out of 10, Penelope Architect 6 out of 10
heat 4/6 heat: Russell’s Reserve 10 Year 4 out of 10, Penelope Architect 6 out of 10
sweetness 6/7 sweetness: Russell’s Reserve 10 Year 6 out of 10, Penelope Architect 7 out of 10
spice 6/6 spice: Russell’s Reserve 10 Year 6 out of 10, Penelope Architect 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Russell’s Reserve 10 Year 3 out of 10, Penelope Architect 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Oak is doing most of the differentiating here.
- Russell’s Reserve 10 Year: Ten years of Wild Turkey at a restrained 90 proof, which trades the 101's punch for polish. More oak and more composure, and one of the better age-stated bottles at its price.
- Penelope Architect: Penelope's four-grain blend finished with French oak staves chosen for their tannin. The French oak adds berry, cherry and warm spice to a vanilla-heavy base.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Russell’s Reserve 10 Year if you want an age-stated, oak-forward Wild Turkey with the volume turned down at a lower price point.
- Go with Penelope Architect if you want a four-grain bourbon with a French oak finish that adds berries and warm spice with more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Russell’s Reserve 10 Year); neat, old-fashioned (Penelope Architect).