Compare
Wild Turkey 101 vs Penelope Rio
Put Wild Turkey 101 next to Penelope Rio and you have a classic, high-rye stalwart set against a blender-built, corn-forward bottling.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Wild Turkey 101 | 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 | 101 proof (50.5% ABV) +3 proof | 98 proof (49% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$25 – $30 ~$63 less | ~$80 – $100 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Limited |
- 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 Rio
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Wild Turkey 101 Penelope Rio
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 6/9 sweetness: Wild Turkey 101 6 out of 10, Penelope Rio 9 out of 10
oak 7/4 oak: Wild Turkey 101 7 out of 10, Penelope Rio 4 out of 10
spice 8/6 spice: Wild Turkey 101 8 out of 10, Penelope Rio 6 out of 10
fruit 4/6 fruit: Wild Turkey 101 4 out of 10, Penelope Rio 6 out of 10
heat 6/5 heat: Wild Turkey 101 6 out of 10, Penelope Rio 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Wild Turkey 101 3 out of 10, Penelope Rio 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Sweetness is where these two part ways.
- 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 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 Wild Turkey 101 if you want bold rye spice and real proof at the lowest price of anything comparable without hunting for it.
- Go with Penelope Rio if you want a honey-and-amburana-finished bourbon that tastes like a cinnamon roll.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Wild Turkey 101); neat, old-fashioned (Penelope Rio).