Distillery: Castle & Key
Proof: 80 (40% ABV)
Age: 2-3 Years
Mashbill: 75% Corn, 15% Wheat, 7% Rye, 3% Malted Barley
Color: Bronze
Price: $39.99
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 Bourbon is made from a blend of 3 mash bills comprised of four grains (corn, wheat, rye, and malted barley). It’s then aged in barrels with #4 char on the staves and #2 on the heads.
Nose – 94/100
Sweet cream, apple, vanilla
Palate – 93/100
Light with touches of vanilla, oak, and rye spice
Finish – 90/100
Short and peppery
Value – 93/100
This is a great bourbon for people who are just getting into bourbon and haven’t acquired a taste for it yet. It’s sweet and light with hints of apple and vanilla. At $40, it’s a great value because of its approachability.
Verdict – 92/100
We score each bourbon based on nose, palate, finish, and value.
Scoring System:
- Platinum – 95+
- Gold – 90 – 94
- Silver – 80 – 89
- Bronze – <80
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.