A little background
Penelope Cooper Series Riviera (Batch 1) is a 94 proof bourbon retailing for around $80, and it’s one of the more distinctive releases in Penelope’s growing Cooper Series lineup. The Cooper Series is built around cask finishing, pairing Penelope’s straight whiskeys with wine barrels sourced from notable wine regions around the world — think France, Hungary, and Spain. Riviera specifically blends 8-year American Light Whiskey with Straight Bourbon, then finishes the marriage in rosé wine casks from Spain. The mash bill runs 74% corn, 7% rye, 16% wheat, and 3% malted barley, giving it a softer, wheat-forward base that plays well with the fruit-driven finishing casks.
Penelope Bourbon itself was founded in 2018 by Mike Paladini and Danny Polise, with the brand named after Mike’s daughter. The Cooper Series is named after Mike’s son, Cooper, and each release in the lineup — Havana, Rio, Valencia, Tokaji, Rosé Cask Finish, and now Riviera — takes that core whiskey on a different international detour. Penelope Cooper Series Riviera leans into a bright, fruit-forward, floral profile that the producer describes as a sweet, floral seaside escape. That’s a bold promise, but given the rosé cask influence and the high-wheat mash bill underneath, it’s not hard to see where they’re going with it.
(Tasted neat from a Glencairn Glass)
Color
Amber
| Mash Bill | Nose | Taste | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| 74% Corn 7% Rye 16% Wheat 3% Malted Barley | Raspberry, Strawberry, Honeysuckle, Apricot, Floral, Vanilla, Baking Spice | Vanilla, Caramel, Peach, Red Currant, Honeysuckle, Brown Sugar, Cotton Candy | Vanilla, Leather, Cinnamon, Baking Spice, Oak, Raspberry, Caramel |
In closing
At the end of the day, Penelope Cooper Series Riviera (Batch 1) is a well-crafted, fruit-and-floral-forward bourbon that largely delivers on its promise. The rosé cask finish from Spain does real work here — the red fruit and floral notes thread through the nose, palate, and finish in a way that feels intentional and cohesive rather than gimmicky. The wheat-heavy mash bill and American Light Whiskey component give the whole thing a silky, approachable texture that works in its favor. That said, the light whiskey influence is prominent and forward, and this bourbon benefits significantly from air time — give it a good 10 to 15 minutes to breathe before you judge it. The finish is on the shorter side, and those looking for bold oak or big proof heat won’t find it at 94 proof. But that’s not really the point of Penelope Cooper Series Riviera. At $80, it sits in a competitive space where you have plenty of options, but few that offer this kind of fruit-driven, wine-cask complexity in a bourbon format. If you enjoy lighter, sweeter, more aromatic pours — especially in warmer months — Penelope Cooper Series Riviera Batch 1 is worth picking up.
NOTE: The sample used for this review was provided at no cost courtesy of Penelope Bourbon. We thank them for the sample and for allowing us to review it with no strings attached.
Penelope Cooper Series Riviera (Batch 1)
The Good
- Super approachable
- Creative product
- Good value
The Bad
- Needs time to open up
- Won't be for everyone
