trustmebro.reviews

Penelope Rio

Physical Product · Bourbon & American whiskey · 16 mentions · 1 subreddit · discussed in r/bourbon

Reddit take

Not enough linked mention summaries yet; the source excerpts below are the evidence.

Pros

  • Parent context: Well I got one at MSRP that never opened... If I want dessert, I grab Crown Salted Caramel or Bulleit BiB. Maybe I should trade or sell it, doesn't sound like my style. Reply: You may really like it! Like I said, to me it...
  • I’ll definitely be getting another one if I can find it for under $90. Sweet and light was definitely the goal here and it was executed well, but it’s sweet enough that this will be a “last drink of the night” for me and never anything else
  • I'm not gonna lie, this stuff is one of my favorites on the shelf. It's such an easy drinker, and if you're looking for something a little on the lighter/sweeter side, this is it.
  • I think rio is way better.
  • I enjoyed the first batch of rio as something different

Cons

  • Act 11 was one of two bottles I gave away after I opened them. The other is Penelope Rio.
  • If you go into it expecting a good quality bourbon, you’ll be disappointed. If you go into it expecting a delicious bourbon-ish honey dessert pour? Then you’ll be okay with it, I’m sure. I went through the same, but I’m glad I have it. H...
  • As I sit here looking at my unopened bottle of Rio I am not inspired to crack it open
  • I couldn’t get past the shoulders of my bottle, I agree with your assessment. Too much sweet and funk, no bourbon to be found.
  • This is a very sweet and straightforward pour. There’s no fruit, and barely any oak. The Amburana and honey cask finishes dominate, leaving little room for traditional bourbon character. I usually enjoy finished bourbons for the added co...

Sentiment

6 positive (38%) · 3 mixed (19%) · 7 negative (44%)

Trust + time weighted score: -8% · raw score -6%

What redditors said (10 of 16)

Act 11 was one of two bottles I gave away after I opened them. The other is Penelope Rio.
negative · u/s****j · r/bourbon · comment · Dec 22, 2025 · open on Reddit ↗
If you go into it expecting a good quality bourbon, you’ll be disappointed. If you go into it expecting a delicious bourbon-ish honey dessert pour? Then you’ll be okay with it, I’m sure. I went through the same, but I’m glad I have it. Hits just the right itch, and it’s a great gateway bottle for non-bourbon drinkers as well.
mixed · u/M****g · r/bourbon · comment · Aug 6, 2025 · open on Reddit ↗
Parent context: Well I got one at MSRP that never opened... If I want dessert, I grab Crown Salted Caramel or Bulleit BiB. Maybe I should trade or sell it, doesn't sound like my style. Reply: You may really like it! Like I said, to me it’s a great dessert pour, but nothing more. But it does its job very well in that arena imo. It’s just not bourbon-yto me.
positive · u/C****8 · r/bourbon · comment · Aug 5, 2025 · open on Reddit ↗
I’ll definitely be getting another one if I can find it for under $90. Sweet and light was definitely the goal here and it was executed well, but it’s sweet enough that this will be a “last drink of the night” for me and never anything else
positive · u/C****8 · r/bourbon · comment · Aug 5, 2025 · open on Reddit ↗
I'm not gonna lie, this stuff is one of my favorites on the shelf. It's such an easy drinker, and if you're looking for something a little on the lighter/sweeter side, this is it.
positive · u/G****1 · r/bourbon · comment · Aug 5, 2025 · open on Reddit ↗
As I sit here looking at my unopened bottle of Rio I am not inspired to crack it open
negative · u/S****1 · r/bourbon · comment · Aug 5, 2025 · open on Reddit ↗
I couldn’t get past the shoulders of my bottle, I agree with your assessment. Too much sweet and funk, no bourbon to be found.
negative · u/R****9 · r/bourbon · comment · Aug 5, 2025 · open on Reddit ↗
This is a very sweet and straightforward pour. There’s no fruit, and barely any oak. The Amburana and honey cask finishes dominate, leaving little room for traditional bourbon character. I usually enjoy finished bourbons for the added complexity, but here the finish seems to simplify things instead. A higher proof might help balance it out, but as it stands, this is strictly a dessert pour for me.
mixed · u/C****8 · r/bourbon · Aug 5, 2025 · open on Reddit ↗
I have a Rio I thought I liked on fresh crack and now can’t stand it.
mixed · u/J****y · r/bourbon · comment · Aug 3, 2025 · open on Reddit ↗
This is definitely a “dessert” dram, but not like a Penelope Rio where it just overpowers everything.
negative · u/J****y · r/bourbon · Aug 3, 2025 · open on Reddit ↗

Compare

Related