Penelope Bourbon was started by childhood friends Mike and Kerry Paladini and Danny Polise. Outside of the bourbon tasting good, which is important, I love that there’s not some far spun tale about grand pappy’s lost bourbon recipe. Instead, Penelope was founded on friendship and love. It was named after Mike and Kerry’s daughter — Penelope. As a father of three girls, I love it. And Penelope’s bourbon has a feminine touch to its flavor profile which I quite enjoy.
Penelope Bourbon delivers the goods. I treat bourbon like I do books. If a book promises something at the beginning, I want to know does it fulfill its promise by the end. Never judge a book for not being something it never intended to be in the first place. Bourbon is the same. Penelope’s site says, “Whether you’re after a lighter, full-flavored bourbon to sip neat or something to use in your favorite cocktail, Penelope Bourbon is a great place to start.” Based on that, Penelope archives exactly what it intends.
Start shopping for bourbon clothing and accessories for your journey. The Bard’s Shop has custom tees and hoodies, books, barrels, and more.
Table of Contents
Penelope Four Grain Barrel Strength Bourbon (Batch 5) Review
Disclaimer: The whiskey reviewed was furnished for free courtesy of the spirit distiller. The distillery did not pay us for this review. This review is our honest and unbiased opinion based soley on how the spirit tasted.
| Penelope Four Grain Barrel Strength Bourbon | Details |
|---|---|
| In the Bottle | 116 Proof |
| ABV | 58% |
| Mashbill | 75% Corn, 15% Wheat, 7% Rye, & 3% Malted Barley |
| Age | 3 to 4YO |
| Distilled By | MGP Distillery Lawrenceburg, IN |
| Bottled and Blended by | Castle & Key Supervised by Mike and Danny |
| Char | #4 Staves, #2 Heads |
| Style | Blend of 3 bourbon mash bills comprised of four grains (Corn, Wheat, Rye, and Malted Barley), Non-Chill Filtered, & Barrel Strength |
| Release Date | Batch 5 (2020) |
| Size | 750 mL |
| Suggested MSRP | $64.99 |
| Distillery | Penelope Bourbon |
| Pros | Balanced Nose with Sweet and Heat |
| Cons | Palate Slightly Muted |
| Availability | Readily Available |
| Rating | Silver 91 out of 100 points |
| Inventory | Keep Stocked |
| Awards | Double Gold Medal Winner - 2020 San Francisco World Spirits Awards |
| Buy Online | Mash & Grape |
According to Penelope Bourbon,
Barrel Strength pushes the boundaries of our signature four grain balanced flavor profile. Batch 5 is blended from three bourbon mash bills aged 3 – 4 years in new American oak barrels and completely uncut and non chill-filtered. Each barrel was hand selected and blended into a single batch in order to create this unique offering.
Penelope Four Grain Barrel Strength Bourbon is both light and refreshing. Something as I mentioned below I could easily see myself sipping neat in the summer or maybe a cube or two of ice. But it’s also full-flavored and balanced. So bravo to the distilling team at Penelope they’ve crafted something that’s delicious and kept their promise by the end of the sipping experience.
Awards
- Double Gold Medal Winner – 2020 San Francisco World Spirits Awards
- 93 Points – Wine Enthusiasts
- 2020 Sip Awards Platinum
- 92 points – The Tasting Panel Magazine
Penelope Barrel Strength Bourbon provides medium coverage coating my Glencairn whiskey glass with ribbons like a heavy curtain. The color is amber and gold.
Nose – 92 out of 100 Points
I’m enjoying this nose. It’s got creamy vanilla pudding, cherries, strawberry, and just a hint of cinnamon. This nose suggests this might be a barrel strength bourbon you could drink neat on a hot summer day. The nose balances the four grains and bourbons blended to achieve harmony.
Taste – 92 out of 100 Points
The front of the palate is all fruit sweetness then transitions to balanced oak and white pepper spice. I also get pops of subtle butterscotch and vanilla. There is also a toasted oat note that’s pleasant.
Finish – 92 out of 100 Points
The finish has the same flavor profile but the sweetness is less pronounced, and it lingers but it’s not overpowering. It’s a delicate (in some ways) but long finish.
Also, white pepper isn’t present. It’s more baking spice, brown sugar with just hints of the fruit from the nose and palate.
Complexity – 93 out of 100 Points
I love the complexity that comes from blending three mashbills and four grains. The barrel strength and non-chill filtered also add depth to the complexity.
Value – 94 out of 100 Points
Penelope Four Grain Barrel Strength Bourbon is at the perfect price point for a barrel strength bourbon with this much flavor.
Verdict – Gold 92.6 out of 100 points
I’m not sure what my expectations were exactly but I was blown away by Penelope Barrel Strength Bourbon. I love the balance between sweet and spice and the finish was more than enjoyable. I’ve had it less than a week and have 1/3 of the bottle left. That should tell you all you need to know.
This is a barrel strength bourbon I will be keeping stocked in my bourbon lineup from here on out. Pro tip: you can buy Penelope Four Grain Barrel Strength Bourbon at Seelbach’s.
Penelope Four Grain Bourbon Review
| Penelope Four Grain Bourbon | Details |
|---|---|
| In the Bottle | 80 Proof |
| ABV | 40% |
| Mashbill | 75% Corn, 15% Wheat, 7% Rye, & 3% Malted Barley |
| Aged | 2 to 3YO |
| Distilled By | MGP Distillery Lawrenceburg, IN |
| Bottled and Blended by | Castle & Key Supervised by Mike and Danny |
| Char | #4 Staves, #2 Heads |
| Style | Blend of 3 bourbon mash bills comprised of four grains (Corn, Wheat, Rye, and Malted Barley) Non-Chill Filtered |
| Suggested MSRP | $35 |
| Distillery | Penelope Bourbon |
| Pros | Phenomenal Aroma and Value |
| Cons | More Umph on Finish |
| Availability | Readily Available Online |
| Rating | Silver 91.6 out of 100 Points |
| Inventory | Buy It Now, Keep It Stocked |
| Awards | 10x Award Winning Straight Bourbon Whiskey |
| Buy Online | Seelbach's |
Awards
- Double Gold Sip Awards 2020
- Sip Awards Consumers’ Choice Award 2020
- Best Buy Wine Enthusiast
- San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2020 Silver
- Double Gold Sip Awards 2019
- San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2019 Silver
- New York International Spirits Competition 93 Points
- Denver International Spirits Competition 93 Points
Nose – 93 out of 100 Points
The aromas are fruit forward — strawberries covered in sugar, fresh shortbread with whipped cream; apples sprinkled with sweet cinnamon. There’s a nice charred oak note that brings it all together. I love this nose. It hits my preferred flavor wheel.
Taste – 91 out of 100 Points
After nosing it, my Glencairn was covered with thick ribbons of bourbon. This delicate bourbon didn’t disappoint. The mouthfeel was solid. It’s crisp and refreshing. The fruit is less sweet and tart and more subtle. Less red fruit and more crisp pears sprinkled with sweet cinnamon drawing out the pear juice. Just a hint of oak and white pepper on the tip of the tongue.
Finish – 91 out of 100 Points
It’s a medium finish that’s all cinnamon.
Complexity – 90 out of 100 Points
Don’t mistake delicate and subtle for lack of complexity. Penelope offers layers of flavor that compliment each other.
Value – 93 out of 100 Points
If you love fruit notes in bourbon, at $30 you should stock Penelope.
Verdict – Silver 91.6 out of 100 Points
Penelope Bourbon Rosé Cask Finish Review
| Penelope Rosé Cask Finish | Details |
|---|---|
| In the Bottle | 94 Proof |
| ABV | 47% |
| Mashbill | 75% Corn, 15% Wheat, 7% Rye, & 3% Malted Barley |
| Age | 2 to 3YO |
| Distilled By | MGP Distillery Lawrenceburg, IN |
| Char | #4 Staves, #2 Heads |
| Style | French Grenache Rosé Wine Casks from the Southern Rhône region Four Grain Non Chill-Filtered |
| Cask Sourced | Speyside Cooperage |
| Release Date | Fall 2020 |
| Price | $64.99 |
| Distillery | Penelope Bourbon |
| Pros | Coming Soon |
| Cons | Coming Soon |
| Availability | Limited Release |
| Rating | Coming Soon |
| Inventory | Coming Soon |
| Buy Online | Sold Out |
Full Review Coming Soon
Penelope Bourbon Private Select Review
Full Review Coming Soon
Start shopping for bourbon clothing and accessories for your journey. The Bard’s Shop has custom tees and hoodies, books, barrels, and more.
Written by Matty Sims
Buy Bourbon Clothing
Popular Posts
Bourbon Release Calendar | Bourbon Drop Dates [2021]
Our bourbon release calendar and drop dates cover the annual cadence of major limited releases as well as new labels approved by the TTB — making bourbon hunting easy again. You may be asking, "What bourbon is releasing this week?" Well, new bourbon release dates are not an exact science. Not all...
Every Stagg Jr. Bourbon Batch Reviewed [2021]
Stagg Jr. bourbon is a barrel proof whiskey from Buffalo Trace's mashbill #1, low-rye (less than 10 percent), that's also used for Buffalo Trace, Eagle Rare, E.H. Taylor among others. It's the younger version of the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection's George T. Stagg (GTS). Stagg Jr. is usually a...
The 24 Best Bourbons Under $100 Ranked [2021]
The over $50 and under $100 bourbon whiskey category is where it gets interesting. There are some all-time great options available in this corner and many can be easily found. Some of my top choices include Booker’s bourbon and Four Roses Single Barrel Barrel Proof (SBBP). Booker’s batches...
The 13 Best Bourbons Under $50 Ranked [2021]
The best bourbons under $50 list are where it gets interesting. In the under $30, there are some great mid to bottom shelf bourbon whiskeys but not many that offer the complete package. Our top pick for the $5o and under does just that, so check out our best bourbon rankings for under $50....
The 14 Best Bourbons Under $30 Ranked [2021]: Best Bourbons for Beginners
Bourbon is America’s native spirit — that fact isn’t up for debate. It was enshrined in law by Congress in 1964. Its popularity is booming and it doesn’t seem like there’s anything that can slow it down. That means a lot of the best bourbons under $30 are easily accessible and delicious. According...
Every Smoke Wagon Bourbon Reviewed [2021]
Smoke Wagon Bourbon was founded by Aaron Chepenik and Jonathan Hensleigh in 2012 as part of Nevada H&C Distilling Co. They source their bourbon from Midwest Grain Products of Indiana (MGPI) using MGPI's 36% high rye bourbon mashbill. Chepenik was convinced you can develop a brand flavor...
Every Weller Bourbon Reviewed [2021]
You're here because you've been asking, "Which Weller bourbon is the best?" We've got you covered with reviews of every Weller in your Weller bourbon collection plus more. Some of you may be newer to bourbon and may just want to know the types of Weller bourbon. Experienced drinker or newer to the...
0 Comments