Review: Penelope Private Select Estate Collection Bourbon 9 Years Old

By Jacob Kiper | November 13, 2024 |

After launching in 2018, Penelope made waves blending and finishing whiskey distilled by MGP in Lawrenceburg, Indiana. Fall of 2024 adds a new slant to the Penelope tradition by adding Kentucky bourbon to the mix with the inaugural release of the annual Penelope Private Select Estate Collection. The May 2023 acquisition of Penelope by MGP/Luxco means the operation now has stocks of Kentucky bourbon readily available for blending.

The inaugural batch #24-201 incorporates a blend of bourbons with at least 9 years of maturation distilled in Indiana and Kentucky. The component mashbills are not disclosed, but the blended mashbill consists of 74% corn, 20% rye, 5% malted barley, and 1% wheat. The blend matures with barrel staves featuring a #4 char and heads with a #2 char. The debut release in this series is bottled at 101.2 proof and yielded 6000 cases.

Penelope does a fine job at blending MGP whiskey, but what are the results when the artist is suddenly given additional colors from Kentucky on their palette? Let’s find out!

Rich aromas of almond extract immediately emanate from the glass to dance with succulent dark plums. The richness continues as burnt brown sugar and caramel clinch the nosing encounter. The inclusion of almond extract in the bouquet propels the nose far beyond ordinary.

The palate launches with notes of vanilla pudding and more juicy black plums. As the affair progresses, nutmeg and molasses align with black pepper as it trails off. At face value, the flavor notes here are those often found in a rather typical bourbon profile, yet they are more intense and concentrated with this Penelope expression and its medium-thick mouthfeel. Heading into the finish, vanilla pudding transitions into Big Red chewing gum. Hints of black pepper persist as a wisp of fennel closes the show.

I was wildly pleased with the inaugural offering of Penelope Private Select Estate Collection Bourbon 9 Years Old. The nosing and tasting experiences are brimming with profound character that is sure to awe any lover of fine whiskey, and the addition of Kentucky bourbon to the existing Penelope arsenal is a beautiful thing.

101.2 proof.

A / $80 / penelopebourbon.com