Distillery: MGP
Proof: 113.90
Age: 4 Years (Blend of 4 year wheated bourbon, 5 year rye bourbon, and 6 year corn bourbon)
Mashbill: 75.5% corn, 14.5% wheat, 7% rye, 3% malted barley (every batch has a different mashbill)
Price: $65
Company
Founded in 2018 and named after the co-founder’s daughter, Penelope Bourbon is a brand that works with several notable companies to make their bourbon. It’s distilled at MGP’s Lawrenceburg, Indiana distillery, aged in oak casks from Speyside Cooperage, and blended and bottled by Castle & Key in Kentucky.
Production
According to their site, Penelope Barrel Strength is made from their signature four grain balanced flavor profile. Three different bourbon mash bills are blended and aged in new charred oak barrels and completely uncut and non-chill filtered. Each barrel is hand selected.
Penelope Barrel Strength Batch 12 Review
We were provided with a sample at no cost by Penelope Bourbon.
Nose – 4/5
Complex and inviting. Vanilla and oak forward with a touch of caramel, citrus, and baking spice.
Palate – 3.75/5
Oak forward with a somewhat unexpected initial punch of pepper. There’s a slight vanilla undertone and some notes of berries. Far less caramel than I anticipated.
A good pour and a lot going on, but the punch of pepper was a bit disorienting at first and overshadowed some of the more subtle notes.
Finish – 3.5/5
Long finish with heavy baking spice and oak with a hint of rye that wasn’t there initially. Complex and spicy, but a little too much so.
Value – 3.5/5
I’ve always been a fan of Penelope. Their MGP blends are always really high-quality, consistent, and unique. So, I was unsurprised to enjoy Batch 12 of Penelope Barrel Strength.
I think at $65 MSRP, Penelope Barrel Proof Batch 12 is a average to slightly above average value. Where you land on the scale depends on how bold and spicy you like your bourbon. This one is definitely lively and packs quite a punch at under 114 proof.
If that sounds like you, then $65 for this bottle is a great buy.
Penelope Barrel Strength Review: The Verdict
Verdict -3.69 /5
We score each bourbon based on nose, palate, finish, and value.
Scoring System:
- Platinum – 4.25 – 5
- Gold – 3.25 – 4.24
- Silver – 2.75 – 3.24
- Bronze – <2.75
Hunter Branch is the Founder and Director of Editorial for Bourbon Inspector. He has been writing about and professionally reviewing bourbon since 2020 (and has been drinking it for much longer). He’s been able to interview big names in the bourbon industry like Trey Zoeller from Jefferson’s Bourbon and his work has been featured in publications like TastingTable, Mashed, and more.