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Woodford Reserve vs Penelope Toasted Series
Comparing Woodford Reserve and Penelope Toasted Series is a closer contest than it looks — both are high-rye bourbons, separated mainly by price (~$35 – $42 vs. ~$55 – $70).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Woodford Reserve | Penelope Toasted Series |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley | 75% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 90.4 proof (45.2% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +10 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$35 – $42 ~$24 less | ~$55 – $70 |
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Woodford Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Penelope Toasted Series
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Woodford Reserve Penelope Toasted Series
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 6/4 fruit: Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10, Penelope Toasted Series 4 out of 10
sweetness 6/7 sweetness: Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10, Penelope Toasted Series 7 out of 10
spice 6/5 spice: Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10, Penelope Toasted Series 5 out of 10
oak 6/7 oak: Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10, Penelope Toasted Series 7 out of 10
heat 4/5 heat: Woodford Reserve 4 out of 10, Penelope Toasted Series 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Woodford Reserve 3 out of 10, Penelope Toasted Series 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The fruit-versus-grain contrast drives this one.
- Woodford Reserve: The most widely poured premium bourbon in America, and a genuinely well-made one. Dried fruit and cocoa over a balanced 18% rye mash, finished smooth enough to please almost anyone.
- 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.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Woodford Reserve if you want a polished, widely available crowd-pleaser that never puts a foot wrong at a lower price point.
- Go with Penelope Toasted Series if you want a toasty, coffee-and-toffee bourbon from a second-barrel finish with slightly more proof behind it and with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Woodford Reserve); neat, old-fashioned (Penelope Toasted Series).