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Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel vs Penelope Rio
Put Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel next to Penelope Rio and you have a classic, high-rye stalwart set against a blender-built, corn-forward bottling.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel | Penelope Rio |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Four-Grain Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | 74% corn, 7% rye, 16% wheat, 3% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 110 proof (55% ABV) +12 proof | 98 proof (49% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$55 – $70 ~$28 less | ~$80 – $100 |
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Penelope Rio
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Penelope Rio
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 8/4 oak: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 8 out of 10, Penelope Rio 4 out of 10
sweetness 6/9 sweetness: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Penelope Rio 9 out of 10
spice 8/6 spice: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 8 out of 10, Penelope Rio 6 out of 10
fruit 4/6 fruit: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 4 out of 10, Penelope Rio 6 out of 10
heat 7/5 heat: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 7 out of 10, Penelope Rio 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 3 out of 10, Penelope Rio 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Barrel influence is the main separator.
- Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel: Non-chill-filtered single barrels at 110 proof, and the format that store picks have made a cult of. Concentrated Wild Turkey character with a texture the standard bottlings do not have.
- 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.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel if you want concentrated Wild Turkey character with single-barrel variation and real texture at a lower price point.
- Go with Penelope Rio if you want a honey-and-amburana-finished bourbon that tastes like a cinnamon roll.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel); neat, old-fashioned (Penelope Rio).