Penelope Straight Rye Whiskey
46% ABV
$35
Website
We would like to thank Luxco and The Brand Guild for sending us samples to review.
What the Blender Says
Our Straight Rye Whiskey is crafted for a balanced, approachable profile, showcasing its spice and depth without overpowering the palate. Smooth, layered, and complex, it reflects our continued focus on quality and innovation, bringing another fresh perspective to American whiskey.
Tasting Notes
AROMA: Bright spearmint citrus zest, layered with baking spice and light toasted oak.
BODY NOTES: Rye spice, cracked pepper, caramelized sugar, cool herbal mint and subtle citrus.
FINISH: Lingering spice, almond, polished oak and mint-caramel fade.
Mashbill
93% Rye
7% 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: Bright with mint, tangerine zest, vanilla and a touch of oak.
Palate: Creamy mouthfeel with caramel, lemon-lime, orange, mint, hint of cinnamon and pepper..
Finish: Moderate in length, drying with honey, caramel, mint and pepper spice.
Comments: That’s what I’m talking about – none of this ‘barely legal’ rye stuff here. Just bright rye spice throughout, and bringing that classic rye character without it being too sharp (not that I mind that in a rye whiskey, but appreciate when it comes full of spice and well balanced). While I enjoyed both of these Classic Series offerings, if I had to pick one to go with it’d be the rye for sure. Also appreciate some level of transparency by the folks at Penelope with including the mashbills, and acknowledging Indiana as the source of the rye (where in my humble opinion, there are folks who have really dialed in the craft).