The Last Call

     Penelope has been one of those brands that continues to surprise me in the best way possible, especially since they started showing up more consistently here in Indiana. Their barrel selections, finishing work, and overall consistency have all been incredibly solid, so when I came across this 18-year American Light Whiskey sitting on the shelf, it was an instant buy. It’s not often you see a light whiskey at this age, and it’s even rarer to see one sitting just above the hazmat line.      What really drew me in here wasn’t just the proof or the age. It was the idea of what Penelope could do with older light whiskey stock. Light whiskey is usually known for being softer and more subtle compared to bourbon, but when you add serious age and keep it at hazmat proof, you start wondering just how much flavor they managed to pull out of it. For the full video review visit the link here:  https://youtu.be/Gci5ozlpZ9s . Age Statement: 18 years. ABV: 70.1...

    Every now and then, a bottle appears where you least expect it, and this was one of those moments. While wandering through a Belmont Beverage in Northern Indiana, I stumbled upon a bottle of  Penelope Private Select 10-Year  sitting quietly on the shelf at SRP. For a release that’s usually hunted down or heavily marked up, this felt like striking gold. Penelope has built a reputation for transparency and consistency, and under the MGP umbrella, they’ve become a powerhouse in blending and finishing. The Estate Collection bottles in particular have turned heads with their elegance and flavor depth, and this Private Select proves no different.     This year’s Estate Collection brings a notable upgrade, now carrying a  10-year age statement , up from last year’s 9-year release. It’s a blend of Indiana and Kentucky bourbons. Penelope’s transparency here is refreshing, letting enthusiasts trace exactly what’s in the bottle. Aged stocks, ca...

        Penelope has been on a roll lately, especially since settling under the MGP umbrella, and their recent limited releases have been grabbing attention for good reason. Marshmallow Toast debuted in late 2024 alongside the Cream Brûlée Architect in 2025, and each showcases Penelope’s knack for pulling highly specific flavor profiles from single barrels. I missed the excitement of batch one, but batch two found me at the right moment during my travels, and at a reasonable price. As a longtime Penelope fan and a lover of toasted bourbons, this release had me genuinely excited.      Batch one appears to have been closer to four years old, making batch two a slight age upgrade. The whiskey is then finished in heavily charred No. 3 casks, designed to coax out toasted sweetness, vanilla creaminess, and the “marshmallow toast” character they’re aiming for. The transparency behind this release only adds to its charm, Penelope lets you know exactly how...

          Penelope has built a reputation for innovation, especially through their creative finishing techniques. Their Straight Rye Whiskey Finished in Tokaji Casks is a perfect example of that craftsmanship. Coming in at 52% ABV and aged at least nine years, this release blends MGP’s signature 95/5 rye recipe with a Hungarian dessert wine cask finish. As a longtime fan of Penelope’s transparency and flavor-forward approach, I was eager to see how their rye handled this sweet, complex finish.      The Tokaji cask finish instantly caught my attention, it’s not something you see often in rye whiskey. Known for its luscious sweetness, Tokaji wine brings vibrant fruit and honeyed notes that can either elevate or overpower a whiskey. Let’s see how Penelope balances it. For the full video review visit the link here:  https://youtu.be/Xt1IWagSys8 . Age Statement: 9 years. ABV:  52%. Mash bill:  95% rye, 5% malted barley. Area of Dis...

     Penelope has become a household name in the bourbon world, and for good reason. Their transparency around sourcing and blending, especially with access to MGP stocks since their acquisition, has led to some exciting releases. With the Weeded Bourbon, Penelope is offering something approachable and shelf-stable, an everyday pour that doesn’t break the bank.      This release is a four-grain bourbon and is only 1% different compared to their standard four-grain. It shifts slightly, boosting the wheat while trimming the barley, a subtle but interesting tweak. The whiskey is aged four to six years, with a blend that includes some older barrels for added depth. At its price point it aims squarely at the budget-friendly market while offering a higher proof than their standard four-grain expression. For the full video review visit the link here:  https://youtu.be/XWegRGLxu3g . Age Statement: 4 years. ABV: 47.5%. Mash bill:  74% corn, 16% wheat, 7% ...