Penelope Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Penelope Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
46% ABV
$43
Website
We would like to thank Luxco and The Brand Guild for sending us samples to review.
What the Blender Says
Rooted in our commitment to quality, innovation, and craftsmanship, our Kentucky Straight Bourbon combines balance and depth in an unmistakable Penelope way. Aged in new American oak barrels, it’s modern, highly refined, smooth, and polished, yet versatile enough for everyday enjoyment.
Tasting Notes
AROMA: Butterscotch, vanilla bean, candied orange, toasted sugar.
BODY NOTES: Brown Sugar, honeyed corn, cinnamon, creamy mint.
FINISH: Caramel, charred oak, dark chocolate, warm spice.
Mashbill
78% Corn
10% Rye
12% Barley Malt
St. Louis, MO — (June 9, 2026) — Penelope Bourbon announces the launch of its Classic Series and its new expressions: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey and Straight Rye Whiskey, two foundational whiskeys designed for everyday drinking occasions.
Over the past eight years, Penelope has built its reputation through experimentation, blending, and innovation, all with the goal of creating exceptional whiskey experiences that continually bring consumers something new to explore and enjoy. The Classic Series continues that journey, reflecting Penelope’s belief that there is always more to discover in the world of bourbon and whiskey.
“Since the beginning, our mission has always been to deliver the best possible whiskey to the consumer with every product we release,” said Michael Paladini, Founder and Vice President of Strategy at Penelope Bourbon. “We didn’t always follow the traditional playbook, but we always prioritized quality above all else. We’ve been talking about and working toward introducing Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey and Straight Rye Whiskey for a long time, but we wanted to make sure they were perfect before releasing them.”
Penelope Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is carefully crafted with a mashbill of 78% corn, 10% rye, and 12% barley malt to deliver a versatile profile that is both approachable for everyday enjoyment and refined enough for whiskey aficionados. On the nose, it opens with aromatics of butterscotch, vanilla bean, candied orange, and toasted sugar. The palate is smooth and layered with notes of brown sugar, honeyed corn, cinnamon, and creamy mint, and finishes with warm and lingering sweetness of caramel and dark chocolate with warm spice. Notably, this release also marks a meaningful milestone for the brand, representing the first time Penelope has worked at scale with distillate from Kentucky.
Complementing the bourbon, Penelope Straight Rye features a refined, approachable spice profile with layered complexity. Distilled in Indiana with a mashbill of 93% rye and 7% malted barley, it opens with bright aromatics of spearmint and citrus zest, a body of rye spice and caramelized sugar, and a lingering, balanced finish, delivering character without overpowering the palate.
“These expressions have been in development for a while,” said Danny Polise, Founder and Master Blender of Penelope Bourbon. “Using Kentucky distillate for the bourbon, like we’ve done in past blends, felt like a natural step as we worked to create something we genuinely liked. We kept dialing in the blends until they felt right, especially with the Straight Rye release.”
Both expressions are bottled at 92 proof and crafted to appeal to a wide spectrum of drinkers, reflecting Penelope’s commitment to quality, innovation, and modern craftsmanship. By leveraging its innovation-first approach, Penelope is demonstrating a new kind of credibility: one rooted in hands-on expertise, curiosity, and a willingness to push boundaries before refining tradition.
What Gary Says
Nose: Toasted orange zest, vanilla sponge cake, crème brûlée, and caramel.
Palate: Rounded mouthfeel, dark chocolate, honey, cinnamon, nutmeg, mint, and a tad nutty.
Finish: Moderate in length, damp with caramel, pepper spice and oak.
Comments: For being under 50% ABV, this is a fairly dark bourbon in the glass. Could be that some of the barrels in the batch are aged quite a ways up. This is on the sweet side of the bourbon spectrum for me, but is balanced well with some spice notes. ‘Classic Series’ is a good fit, as this is a pretty solid, down the middle bourbon.