We like the Penelope whiskeys. They are bottling some very good whiskeys sourced from the Ross & Squibb Distillery (formerly “MGP”). They have bottled this rye whiskey after finishing it in toasted barrels. It impressed us quite a bit and we considered it for “whiskey of the Month”, but it did not make it against our favorite in a blind tasting. Here are our tasting notes.
Penelope Toasted Rye Whiskey
Proof: 100
Age: Six Years Old
Nose:
- Mike: Rye grass, vanilla, a hint of fruit, baking spices and oak wood.
- Matt: Vanilla, marshmallows, raisins, honeysuckle, and oak wood.
Taste:
- Mike: Rye grass, vanilla, raspberries, cardamom spice and oak wood. Tasted with a dried cranberry and the raspberry is enhanced and tangerine joins the party. Tasted with a pecan brings out caramel, raspberry, blackberry, cinnamon and oak wood.
- Matt: Caramel, a hint of honey, vanilla latte, raisins and oak wood. The dried cranberry added a hint of lemon zest. The pecan added coffee and ripe apple to the flavor.
Finish:
- Mike: Medium long with oak wood, cardamom spice and lingering raspberry. The dried cranberry made the finish longer with some lingering tangerine and raspberry. The pecan made the finish long and dry with oak wood, cinnamon spice and lingering berries.
- Matt: Medium long with oak wood and lemon zest. The dried cranberry made the finish long with oak wood, and caramel apples. The pecan made the finish long and dry with oak wood, coffee and lingering tart apple.
I would pair this fine Rye Whiskey with a San Cristobal Quintessence cigar. The dried fruit and vanilla in the smoke would pair well with the vanilla and fruit in the Rye Whiskey.
Photos Courtesy of Rosemary Miller