(Photo: Penelope)
On Wednesday, Penelope Bourbon hit the market with its 2024 Estate Collection. Built out in three releases containing a total of eight bottlings, the variety intends to explore nuances of age statement, mashbill and alcohol content that have made the New Jersey-based bottler a household name.
“It was a thrill to explore the warehouses and hunt for the perfect barrels to create the collection,” master blender Danny Polise remarked in a news release. “We pride ourselves on the details in blending, and took a hands-on approach to find specific nuances and variations in order to curate these releases. The result is an outstanding premium collection illustrating the breadth of both fine distillate and blending.”
There's a heck of a lot to get into, so let's dive straight toward the juicy details:
Penelope Founder's Reserve features the highest age statement of the bunch, clocking in at 11 years in charred new American oak barrels sourced from the Ross & Squibb Distillery in Lawrenceburg, Indiana. The blend is made up of 24 barrels of experimental whiskey with a mashbill of 95% wheat and 5% barley malt.
Drinkers can pick from one of five lots bottled between 107.6 proof and 118.4 proof. No matter the ABV, Penelope says to expect aromas of caramelized sugar and vanilla bean alongside flavors of maple buttercream, white pepper and toffee. The expression is available at a suggested retail price of $199.
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Penelope Private Select, meanwhile, is a blend of nine-year straight bourbon stocks gathered from two different states (if we had to guess, those would be Kentucky and Indiana). The expression is bottled at 101.2 proof and contains a mashbill of 74% corn, 20% rye, 5% malted barley and 1% wheat.
The end result opens with custard and cherry fruit on the nose followed by flavors of creme brulee, allspice and light smoke. Though limited to just 6,000 cases, this should be the easiest of the collection to find on liquor store shelves; bottles are hitting retailers nationwide at a suggested price of $79.99.
Penelope Single Barrel is all about the rye. Sourced from two 10-year barrels, the duo of bottlings each delivers a different mashbill, alcohol content and tasting notes.
Single Barrel 21% is made up of 75% corn, 21% rye and 4% malted barley. The release — shipping in October at a suggested price of $89.99 — is bottled at 98 proof and contains flavors of maraschino cherry, dried fruit, caramel and light rye. Those in search of something spicier might opt for Single Barrel 36%, also available at $89.99. This final release in the collection features of mashbill of 60% corn, 36% rye and 4% malted barley with aromas and flavors of chocolate cocoa, butterscotch and roasted nuts.
"These three releases showcase the best of the best in our rickhouses, allowing us to create one-of-a-kind aged whiskeys that take Penelope to new heights," founder Michael Paladini added. "Each product in the Estate Collection is unique – from the blend to the age and the mash bill. There’s something in this collection for everyone.”
Penelope was founded in Roselle, New Jersey, in 2018. After years of sourcing spirits from Indiana whiskey giant MGP, the brand was bought out in full by MGP subsidiary Luxco, Inc., in 2023. These days, Penelope is particularly well-known for its specialty casked-finished bourbons like Valencia (from Vino de Naranja barrels) and Rio (honey and amburana casks).
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