Penelope Rio 2024 Release
Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Honey and Amburana Barrels Double Cask Finish
49% ABV
$90
Website
We would like to thank Penelope Bourbon and BYRNE PR for sending us a sample to review.
What the Producer Says
Rio is our latest installment in our Cooper Series which takes our straight whiskeys on a world tour, pairing Penelope with unique casks from around the world. Inspired by the joy of Brazil, Rio delights the senses with a double cask finish of American honey and Brazilian oak. The two make perfect dance partners, rich and sweet, with surprising depth. It’s a carnival in a bottle.
TASTING NOTES
Aroma: Sweet honey with a fun Cinnamon roll note
Forward Notes: Sweet spice
Body Notes: Gingerbread, honey nectar & sweet baking spice
Finish: Long and savory finish with subtle hints of sweet honey & spice
BOURBON FACTS
Type & Proof: Four Grain | Straight Bourbon Whiskey | 98 Proof | Non Chill-Filtered
Process: Blend of 3 bourbon mash bills comprised of four grains finished first in honey barrels and then new Amburana barrels from Brazil. Finishing period was ~2 years in total.
Age: 4-6 years
Mash Bill: 74% Corn | 14% Wheat | 9% Rye | 3% Malted Barley
What Gary Says
Nose: Cinnamon rolls with honey, vanilla frosting, graham cracker crumbles with a bit of caramel and nutmeg.
Palate: Creamy mouthfeel with honey, cinnamon, vanilla, caramel, nutmeg and a bit of pepper.
Finish: Moderately long, syrupy with cinnamon rolls and honey.
Comments: On the nose this doesn’t strike me as a “finished bourbon”. One of my pet peeves is when a finish overpowers the core whiskey, and that is the case here but . . . I really love it! As much as I want to critique the heavy handed finish, this is a delicious guilty pleasure. Sure, there’s some bourbon notes of caramel and vanilla tucked in there if you work at finding them, but the honey and cinnamon are center stage – and rocking it. If you want your bourbon to taste like bourbon, this could be disappointing. If you’re open to drinking what reminds me of honey slathered on freshly made cinnamon french toast (or a certain cinnamon roll drizzled in honey, you get the picture) – this is a really tasty treat!
Having had the opportunity to share a couple pours of this unique distillate (Thanx Gary!) I heartily agree! This is a true ‘outlier’! If it’s a subtle finish you expect, as most mature-then-finished Bourbons tend to strive for, FUGGETABOUTIT!!! This is more “in-your-honey-sweet” up front, then it quickly becomes a veritable cinnamon bomb… and that cinnamon lasts and lasts! I enjoyed it after I got over my surprise. For an after dinner, sort of ‘dessert’ pour; this hits the mark hard!