Penelope Four Grain Straight Bourbon Whiskey

A little background

This product is bottled as 80 proof and comes in at a retail of around $35. It is distilled by MGP Ingredients, Inc. in Lawrenceburg, Indiana and is bottled in Louisville, Kentucky. The co-founders of Penelope Bourbon (Mike Paladini and Danny Polise) both grew up in Basking Ridge, New Jersey. The product is a blend of 3 bourbon mash bills sourced from MGP Ingredients, Inc. which are comprised of undisclosed amounts of corn, wheat, rye, and malted barley. The whiskey is aged 2-3 years, and the company uses number 4 staves and number 2 barrel heads to achieve their desired char. The product is also non-chill filtered and is unique that it is a 4 grain bourbon whiskey.

(Tasted neat from The Cradle Glass)

Color

Light honey

Nose

The nose starts off with notes of brewed herbal tea, pine, and a very prominent tabasco sauce note that are followed by pleasant notes of dark fruit and cherries.

Palate

The palate follows the nose and starts off with stewed fruits and fresh brewed tea. The flavors are light and delicate making this an easy to drink bourbon without much of a bite at all. The mouthfeel is thin and does not coat the whole palate but does also not feel watered down. When a few drops of water are added, more floral notes become present on the nose, and the tabasco note becomes present on the finish.

Finish

The finish is very short and carries the note of fresh brewed tea that is present throughout the whole tasting experience; however, it is also refreshing and makes you want to take another sip.

In conclusion

This bourbon has unique flavor but lacks complexity especially on the palate and finish. The nose is a little thin for my liking but does have an interesting flavor profile. The palate is a little thin for me as well, but that should be expected from an 80 proof bourbon. This is the type of drink that would be great on a hot summer day as the finish is refreshing. That being said, this product has a very unique flavor profile that is going to catch some people off guard. At $35, I would recommend picking up a bottle if you are looking for a unique product that has unique flavors. This is not the caramel, vanilla, butterscotch flavor bomb that a lot of bourbon drinkers have become accustomed to.