The Complete Guide to Penelope Bourbon

Core Four (Four Grain, Barrel Strength, Toasted, Architect) & Cooper Series (Rosé, Valencia, Tokaji, Rio)

by Brian Donnelly

April 29, 2024

Overview

Michael Paladini founded Penelope Bourbon. He and his wife, Kerry, struggled to conceive a child, but Kerry finally became pregnant. The couple knew they would have a girl and wanted to name her Penelope. Mike wanted to create a bourbon brand to celebrate this moment every day. Partnering with his lifelong friend Danny Polise, he sourced the spirit from MGP (Midwest Grain Products), now called Ross & Squibb, in Lawrenceburg, Indiana. They chose a unique blend of three bourbon mash bills to set the brand apart from other MGP products. The brand began with the four-grain, white label, which is still the brand's flagship product. Penelope was later acquired by the Luxco & MGP parent company, which will give the brand access to older barrels and also elevate production. Items that may have been extremely limited in the past should have more volume across the board. Mike will still be very involved in innovations, and Danny will maintain his position as master blender. 

Penelope Four Grain, Straight Bourbon Whiskey

The Four Grain label is the Penelope brand's entry-level and flagship product. It offers an easy drinking lower-proofed option that is perfect for cocktails. This product is a blend of three bourbon mash bills containing all four grains that average 75 % corn, 7 % rye, 15 % wheat, and 3 % malted barley. The bourbon is distilled at the Ross & Squibb Distillery in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, aged for a minimum of 36 months in new American Oak barrels with a # 4 char for the barrel staves and a # 2 char for the barrel head, non-chill filtered, and bottled at 80 proof (40 % ABV). The Four Grain won a silver medal in 2020 at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC). 

• Aroma - Balanced corn sweetness, caramel, light oak, syrup, dynamic aroma profile with slight savory notes

• Body - Fruit, syrup, candied sweetness, and a savory vanilla note with slight berry and citrus

• Finish - Slight buttercream (icing) and corn bread finish with a lingering vanilla spice

Penelope Barrel Strength, Straight Bourbon Whiskey

The Barrel Strength is a blend of three bourbon mash bills containing all four grains that average 80 % corn, 7 % rye, 7 % wheat, and 6 % malted barley. The bourbon is distilled in Indiana and Kentucky, aged for a minimum of 4 years new American Oak barrels, uncut with water, non-chill filtered, bottled in small batches at barrel strength, which typically ranges from 112 to 116 proof (56 - 58 % ABV). The Barrel Strength won a double gold medal in 2020 and a gold medal in 2022 & 2023 at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC). 

• Aroma - Sweet caramel with a hints of maple syrup and candied sweetness

• Body - Sweetness transitions to notes of cinnamon, barrel char, and slight maple syrup

• Finish - Spicy cinnamon finish with amazing lingering spice and heat

Penelope Toasted Bourbon, Straight Bourbon Whiskey

The Toasted Series is distilled at the Ross & Squibb Distillery in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, from a mash bill of 75 % corn, 21 % rye, and 4 % malted barley. Unlike the Four Grain and Barrel Strength, this mash bill is not a blend. The bourbon is aged 5 years in a charred new American Oak barrel and finished in a second new American Oak toasted barrel. The char level of the first barrel can range from # 1 to # 5, and the toast level of the second barrel can be light, medium, or heavy, depending on the batch. This product is non-chill filtered and bottled in small batches at 100 proof (50 % ABV). Charring a barrel is similar to flame-throwing the wood while toasting is more similar to holding a lighter to the wood. The comparison that is often used is toasting bread in a toaster. The Toasted won a gold medal in 2022 at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC). 

• Aroma - Rich caramel & vanilla

• Body - Bold on the palate with notes of marshmallow &vanilla

• Finish - Long savory finish that leaves a nice hug

Penelope Toasted Rye, Straight Rye Whiskey

Penelope Architect, Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished with French Oak Staves

The Architect is distilled from a mash bill of 75 % corn, 21 % rye, and 4 % malted barley, aged 4 years in new American Oak barrels, then finished in stainless steel tanks for 6 weeks with French oak staves from the French oak barrel manufacturer Tonnellerie Radoux in Jonzac (located between Cognac and Bordeaux in Western France). Their staves are rated using the state-of-the-art OakScan® process to determine their tannin level. The brand wants to build a new and distinct flavor profile in the same way an Architect creates new innovative structures. Each "build" will have its blueprint on the back label to highlight the flavor profile wheel. This product is non-chill filtered and bottled in small batches at 104 proof (52 % ABV). Architect won a silver medal in 2023 at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC). 

• Aroma - Sweet candied cream and floral with hints of crème brûlée

• Body - Creamy sweetness transitions from the forward notes and into the body, herbal, floral and cream

• Finish - Rich vanilla that leaves a long lingering finish with some heat 

Penelope Rosé Cask Finish, Straight Bourbon Whiskey finished in Rosé Wine Casks

The Rosé Cask Finish is the first installment in the Cooper Series pairing Penelope whiskey with wine casks from interesting wine-making regions around the world. This product is a blend of three bourbon mash bills containing all four grains that average 74 % corn, 6 % rye, 17 % wheat, and 3 % malted barley. The bourbon is aged for 4-5 years in new American Oak barrels with a # 4 char for the staves and a # 2 char for the barrel head, then finished for 4 months in French Grenache Rosé Wine Casks from the Southern Rhône region of France. The final product is non-chill filtered, bottled in small batches at 94 proof (47 % ABV).  The Rosé Cask Finish won a gold medal in 2022 and 2023 at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. 

• Aroma - Candied fruit and cream, floral and herbal notes

• Body - Creamy sweetness transitions from the forward notes and into the body, herbal, floral and strawberry cream

• Finish - Rich creamy vanilla with hints of strawberry. Savory finish with lingering notes

Penelope Valencia, Straight Bourbon Whiskey finished in Vino de Naranja Casks

Valencia is the second installment in our Cooper Series, pairing Penelope whiskey with wine casks from interesting wine-making regions around the world. This product is a blend of three bourbon mash bills containing all four grains that average 75% corn, 7% rye, 15% wheat, and 3% malted barley. The bourbon is aged 4-5 years in new American Oak barrels with a # 4 char for the staves and a # 2 char for the barrel head, then finished for 12 months in Vino de Naranja (orange wine) casks from Sevilla, Spain. The final product is non-chill filtered, bottled in small batches at 95 proof (47.5 % ABV). The proof ranges from 94 to 98 (47 - 49 % ABV). Valencia won a silver medal in 2023 at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC).

• Aroma - Bold spice and iced coffee cake with a blood orange glaze

• Body - Floral undertones with a citrus zest

• Finish - Rich and savory finish with hints of mandarin and orange peel

Penelope Tokaji Cask Finish, Straight Rye Whiskey finished in Tokaji Wine Casks

Tokaji Cask Finish is the third installment in the Cooper series, pairing Penelope whiskey with wine casks from interesting wine-making regions around the world.  The base is a rye whiskey distilled from a mash bill of 95 % rye and 5 % malted barley, aged 8 years, then cask finished for 3 months in Hungarian Takaji wine casks, non-chill filtered, and bottled in small batches between 106 to 109 proof (53 - 54.5 % ABV). Tokaji, pronounced Toh-Kah-HEE, is a famous sweet wine from Hungry, once described as the "wine of kings" by Louis XIV. The Tokaji casks' dessert sweetness balances the rye whiskey's spice. This product won a bronze medal in 2023 at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC). 

• Aroma - Dark chocolate covered raisins and almond pastry

• Body - Viscous sweet honey and caramel with hints of orange zest

• Finish - Savory finish with notes of black cherry, tobacco, and red wine

Penelope Rio, Straight Bourbon Whiskey Double Cask-Finished in Honey and Amburana Barrels

Rio is the newest installment in the brand's Cooper Series, but unlike the other releases, this product is not finished in a wine cask. This product is a blend of three bourbon mash bills containing all four grains that average 75 % corn, 7 % rye, 15 % wheat, 3 % malted barley, aged 4 to 6 years, then double cask finished for around 2 years in American honey barrels and Amburana barrels from Brazil. The final product is non-chill filtered, bottled in small batches at 98 proof (49 % ABV). 

• Aroma - Sweet honey with a fun Cinnamon roll note

• Body - Rich with notes of gingerbread, honey nectar & baking spice

• Finish - Long and savory finish with subtle notes of sweet honey and spice

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