Rye grain | Fresh oak | Rye bread | Caraway seeds | Light mint leaf | Touch of cinnamon crumble | Faint bubble gum

Oak | Creamy vanilla caramel chew | Light rye spice | Jewish rye bread | Seared orange rind

Rye spice | Black peppercorn | Rye grain | Light vanilla | Lightly charred oak | Lingering warm spice

While Penelope has slowly expanded their Core Series of whiskeys over the years, focusing on whiskeys distilled in Indiana. Penelope likely realized that some consumers gravitate towards Kentucky-distilled whiskey when determining where to focus next. The introduction of the company’s new Classic Series consists of two initial products: Kentucky Bourbon and Rye. While no distillery is listed, given that the rye is distilled in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, and that the Ross & Squibb Distillery (MGP) is located there, it would be safe to assume that a portion, if not all, of the rye originates from that distillery.

Penelope Classic Series: Straight Rye is an easy-to-handle rye, mainly thanks to its easy to appreciate sip. It opens with various rye scents along with fainter sweet ones thanks to mint leaf, cinnamon crumble, and bubble gum. The sweetness carries over to the palate thanks to a creamy vanilla caramel chew note and is joined by rye and oak notes. A note of seared orange rind adds intrigue before kicking off the finish, which focuses on more classic flavors before riding off on a bed of lingering warm spice.

MGP is known for their classic 95/5 rye mashbill. While Penelope Classic Series: Straight Rye’s mashbill only varies slightly from this, that variation brings a nice change from what consumers might expect. This is a rye that’s not overly spicy, so it will appeal to non-rye drinkers, but it contains enough classic rye flavors to appeal to rye lovers at the same time. It’s not overly deep and is far from being noteworthy, but the sip it delivers is good enough to please most. Toss in a $35 price tag, and you have a versatile rye that can be used in cocktails or poured neat on a daily basis. That ultimately translates to Penelope Classic Series: Straight Rye being a win for consumers.