I like the Penelope Bourbons. This particular Bourbon is a four grain mash bill Bourbon with 74% corn, 7% rye, 16% wheat and 3% malted barley. Penelope whiskeys are sourced whiskeys from MGP and Bardstown Bourbon Company, who own a share of the brand. These two companies make very good whiskey. This particular Bourbon is labeled a “Straight Bourbon Whiskey” so is either sourced from MGP or has some Indiana Bourbon in the bottle, otherwise, I am sure they would call it a Kentucky Straight Bourbon. The label has no age statement but the Penelope website states it is 4-6 year old Bourbon. Matt and I sat down to taste this bottle the other day and here are our tasting notes.
Penelope Wheat Recipe Bourbon
Proof: 95
Age: No Age Statement
Nose:
- Mike: Vanilla, corn, apples, baking spices and oak wood.
- Matt: Vanilla, powdered sugar, berries, nutmeg, ginger and oak wood.
Taste:
- Mike: Vanilla, apples, nutmeg and oak wood. Tasted with a dried cranberry and the apple is enhanced and cinnamon spice comes out. Tasted with a pecan and the vanilla becomes caramel and the oak wood is enhanced.
- Matt: Vanilla latte coffee, berries, ginger and oak wood. The dried cranberry enhanced the berry notes. The pecan brought out a note of cocoa.
Finish:
- Mike: Short with oak wood and nutmeg. The dried cranberry made the finish medium long with oak wood and cinnamon. The pecan made the finish medium long with oak wood and caramel.
- Matt: Short with oak wood and ginger spice. The dried cranberry added lingering berry notes to the finish. The pecan made the finish medium long with oak and cocoa.
I would pair this Bourbon with a cigar that has vanilla and rich tobacco notes in the smoke. I would reach for an A. Fuente Gran Reserva cigar.
Photos Courtesy of Rosemary Miller