Distillery: MGP
Proof: 114
Age: 4 years, 6 months
Mashbill:
Undisclosed blend of bourbons:
- 21% rye-based bourbon
- 99% corn-based bourbon
- 45% wheat-based bourbon
Every batch has a different mashbill.
Price: $70
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, this expression of Penelope Bourbon (Barrel Strength) is finished in a new, freshly toasted barrel (level #4 char staves and level #2 char heads). This adds a new level of richness and sweetness since the distillate absorbs flavors from the initial barrel, then gets put in an additional barrel that’s never been used. Many well-known brands like Elijah Craig have similar offerings.
Penelope Barrel Strength Toasted Barrel Review: Flavor Profile
Nose
Smells like a marshmallow roasting over a campfire. Rich oak, vanilla, and caramel. A bit dry and has a hint of rye (rhyme intended).
Reminds me of Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel but with more dryness and campfire vibes.
| Inspector’s Score | Insider’s Score | Average Score |
|---|---|---|
| 4/5 | 3/5 | 3.63/5 |
Palate
Rye on the front that fades into heavy vanilla, toasted oak, caramel, and cherry. I noticed a hint of marshmallow on the back end.
It’s hot. Close to the border of being too hot, but doesn’t quite cross that line.
| Inspector’s Score | Insider’s Score | Average Score |
|---|---|---|
| 3/5 | 3/5 | 3/5 |
Finish
Medium-to-long finish that’s heavy on toasted oak (unsurprisingly). I also detected hints of rye, caramel, and cherry.
This is a very well-balanced and consistent pour throughout.
| Inspector’s Score | Insider’s Score | Average Score |
|---|---|---|
| 3/5 | 3/5 | 3/5 |
Value
This is a great bourbon, especially if you like toasted barrel expressions. Whether it’s a “good value” comes down to what you’re looking for. I think it’s a fair value at $70 for a high-end toasted barrel bottle. It’s going to be cheaper than Elijah Craig Toasted and I think it’s a bit better.
You can’t really compare this to standard bourbons because it’s not the same thing. If you’re looking for a really well-aged and high-quality bourbon, you can find many better options than Penelope Barrel Strength Toasted Barrel at $70 because it’s a tad on the younger side.
So, I think it’s priced on the premium side of the market for toasted barrel offerings (excluding allocated bottles that are price-gouged), but worth it if you love a toasted barrel bottle.
| Inspector’s Score | Insider’s Score | Average Score |
|---|---|---|
| 3.25/5 | 3/5 | 3.13/5 |
Penelope Barrel Strength Toasted Barrel Review: The Verdict
Verdict – 3.19/5
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.