Penelope Barrel Strength Bourbon Batch 18
Straight Bourbon Whiskey
57% ABV
$65
Website
We would like to thank Luxco for sending us samples to review.
What the Blender Says
Penelope Barrel Strength is bourbon in its purest form. Completely uncut and non-chill filtered, our barrel strength bourbon is just as delicious and even more powerful than our signature Four Grain blend.
Each batch of our Barrel Strength is blended from three bourbon mash bills and aged in hand-selected new American oak barrels, imparting notes of caramel syrup and subtle barrel char and pushing the boundaries of our Four Grain’s balanced flavor profile.
Mash Bill: 80% Corn | 8% Rye | 9% Wheat | 3% Malted Barley
Blend of three straight bourbon mash bills distilled in Indiana
Proof: 114
Aged 4 – 6 Years
Uncut & Non Chill-Filtered | Aged 4 – 6 Years
TASTING NOTES
AROMA: Mandarin orange, with hints of vanilla
BODY: Brown sugar, cherry, and sweetened apricot
FINISH: Long finish with soft cinnamon powder and slight spice
What Gary Says
Nose: Blood orange, vanilla, honey, nutty with dark chocolate (and an aroma I can only describe as the Boston Baked Beans candy).
Palate: Chocolate-covered cherries, cinnamon, salted caramel, orange marmalade, nutmeg, and pepper.
Finish: Moderately long, syrupy with cinnamon, honey, and pepper spice.
Comments: For a barrel-strength bourbon, this is very light in color (lighter than the Penelope Toasted Series Batch 24-301). I really dig the Boston Baked Beans note on the nose (and if you’ve never had that candy, I’m sorry someone wronged you in your childhood by failing to introduce you) which is the first time I’ve gotten that note from any whisk(e)y. While it’s a nice enough pour, I was hoping for more. The low proof for barrel strength (as well as lightness in color) leads me to believe this was matured on a lower-level rickhouse where it didn’t get as much action from the barrel. It’s gentle for a barrel-strength bourbon.