Penelope Architect (Build No. 7) Kentucky Straight Bourbon Review & Tasting Notes

 

Two childhood friends, Mike Paladini and Daniel Polise, along with Mike's wife, Kerry, went into business together and created their own brand of Bourbon. Mike and Kerry were expecting a child and knew they wanted to name their daughter Penelope. That inspired them to name their brand, Penelope Bourbon. 

 

Penelope Bourbon earns kudos from me with its comprehensive transparency. Penelope makes no secret that it is distilled by MGP. It partners with Speyside Cooperage to source casks for its various oak finishes. Penelope’s whiskeys were initially blended and bottled at Castle & Key Distillery. However, those operations have since moved to Bardstown Bourbon Company.

 

Then, in May this year, Penelope Bourbon was acquired by Luxco, MGP’s consumer-facing subsidiary.

 

“MGP has been an incredible partner of ours since we started our business in 2018. We are excited to take our partnership to the next level with the goal of accelerating Penelope’s growth for years to come.” Michael Paladini

 

“Since our initial product launch in 2019, it has been amazing to watch consumers embrace our brand. We look forward to expanding our partnership with MGP and building on our legacy.” Daniel Polise

 

Today’s review is for Penelope Architect Build No. 7. Penelope suggests the Architect series is a “blueprint” for its whiskey blending. It begins with a blend of three MGP mashbills:

 

• 51% corn, 45% wheat, 4% malted barley
• 75% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley
• 99% corn, 1% malted barley

 

When all is said and done, the mashbill is 75% corn, 15% wheat, 7% rye, and 3% malted barley. Aged for five years in new, #4-charred oak barrels with #2-charred oak heads, it utilizes two types of French oak staves in the finishing process. The first is Delicate, which carries a low tannin content, and Intense, with medium tannins. When all is said and done, it is considered a Four-Grain Kentucky Straight Bourbon that is non-chill filtered and packaged at 52% ABV (104°). Its suggested retail price is $60.00.

 

As a point of clarification, the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (commonly referred to as TTB) does not legally define Four-Grain, so legally, it could mean anything.

 

I acquired this bottle of Penelope Architect from a friend in exchange for my no-strings-attached, honest review. Let’s #DrinkCurious and learn more.

 

Appearance: I sipped this Bourbon from my Glencairn glass. It was a neat pour. Inside, the liquid was a brilliant orange amber. The whiskey created a microthin rim but produced thick, wavy tears.

 

Nose: I smelled orange citrus, vanilla beans, toasted oak, and torched caramel. Inhaling through my mouth made the aroma sense – it was crème brulee.  

 

Palate: The texture was oily but carried some weight. The front of my palate encountered vanilla cream, orange zest, and toasted oak. I tasted leather, tobacco leaf, and cocoa powder as it moved across my tongue. Flavors of dark roasted coffee, something herbal, and barrel char were on the back.

 

Finish: The long, warming finish consisted of old leather, tobacco leaf, cocoa, dark roasted coffee, French oak, and whatever that herbal note was.   

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: Penelope Architect drank slightly above its stated proof. The influence from the French oak staves, whether Delicate or Intense, was unmistakable. Architect was a complex pour, hitting various smells and flavors. I did notice how things layered upon one another. For $60.00, I think this version is worthy to have at home. Buy a Bottle; you’ll be happy. Cheers!

 

My Simple, Easy-to-Understand Rating System

• Bottle = Buy It
• Bar = Try It
• Bust = Leave It

 

Whiskeyfellow encourages you to enjoy your whiskey as you see fit but begs you to do so responsibly.