Compare
Wild Turkey 101 vs Penelope Architect
Wild Turkey 101 and Penelope Architect sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, rye-forward classic versus a sourced, classically built blend.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Wild Turkey 101 | 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 | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 101 proof (50.5% ABV) | 104 proof (52% ABV) +3 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$25 – $30 ~$38 less | ~$60 – $70 |
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Wild Turkey 101
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Penelope Architect
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Wild Turkey 101 Penelope Architect
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 8/6 spice: Wild Turkey 101 8 out of 10, Penelope Architect 6 out of 10
oak 7/5 oak: Wild Turkey 101 7 out of 10, Penelope Architect 5 out of 10
fruit 4/6 fruit: Wild Turkey 101 4 out of 10, Penelope Architect 6 out of 10
sweetness 6/7 sweetness: Wild Turkey 101 6 out of 10, Penelope Architect 7 out of 10
heat 6/6 heat: Wild Turkey 101 6 out of 10, Penelope Architect 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Wild Turkey 101 3 out of 10, Penelope Architect 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Rye spice is the dividing line here.
- Wild Turkey 101: The workhorse high-rye Kentucky bourbon and one of the best proof-to-price ratios anywhere. Vanilla and orange up front, then a genuinely spicy, peppery, tobacco-tinged middle that punches well above $25.
- 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 Wild Turkey 101 if you want bold rye spice and real proof at the lowest price of anything comparable.
- Go with Penelope Architect if you want a four-grain bourbon with a French oak finish that adds berries and warm spice.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Wild Turkey 101); neat, old-fashioned (Penelope Architect).