Classification: Straight Bourbon Finished with French Oak Staves
Company: Penelope Bourbon
Distillery: Sourced from MGP
Release Date: September 2022
Proof: 104
Age: NAS (Website states it includes bourbons aged 4-5.5 years)
Mashbill: 75% Corn, 15% Wheat, 7% Rye, 3% Malted Barley
Color: Dark Amber
MSRP: $65 (2022)
Pine | Toasted oak | Light maple syrup | A touch floral
French oak | Dark raspberries | White grape | Enjoyable intensity
Fig | Plum | Nutmeg | Oak | Touch of malt
Utilizing a softer approach with Build No. 3, Penelope continues to showcase the many different sides of French oak with their Architect line.
Penelope’s Architect has experienced a steady move towards evenness and structure with each new “Build.” Where Build No. 1 was bold and a love letter to those who can’t get enough of French oak, Build No. 3 finds a softer approach to onboarding new fans of this particular finish. Harnessing a finish that focuses on oak as opposed to fruity wine or sugary spirit can scare off some. Big oak often found in high aged whiskey or oak based finishes isn’t for everyone as they can be overpowering and even bitter at times. Using French Oak staves allows Penelope the ability to control their finishing more accurately as each Build offers slight tweaks and refinement from the previous one. Once again, the French oak is infused in every aspect of Architect’s sip, but by turning down the dial this time, it allows a bit more of its base four grain whiskey to come through. It might not ever come through fully based on the nature of French oak finishing, but Build No. 3 offers a shade more depth this time around allowing the whiskey to breathe a bit better. For fans of French oak, there’s no better place to experience it than the past three releases of Penelope Architect. For those curious, Build No. 3 is a great place to start.