Honey | Vanilla | Light floral scents | Undertone of oak | Creamy caramel | Clear influence of the Grenache rosé wine cask finishing | Enticing

Vanilla | White peppercorn | Touch of cream of wheat | Summer fruits | Light & airy

Fleeting red fruits | Rye spice | White peppercorn | Oak | Dash of dry cinnamon | Lingering simmer of heat

Summer may be officially over, but in Penelope Bourbon’s book it’s still rosé season. While whiskeys finished in wine barrels are common, finishing in rosé casks are not. Like their initial Batch 01 release, Penelope finished their bourbon in Grenache rosé wine casks from Southern France. In fact the exact same casks used for Batch 01 were reused for Batch 02. The latest batch also saw an increase in bottle count with a total of 3,000 bottes being produced.

Like Batch 01, this release consists of a blend of three bourbon mashbills of four grains (corn, wheat, rye, and malted barley). The resulting bourbon when paired with the rosé cask barrel finish is delicate yet quite enjoyable. The nose opens with clear influence of the barrel finish, while delicate fruits and spice are teased throughout the rest of the sip. It’s easy sipping, yet provides just the right amount of intrigue to keep you coming back for more.

While the batches also share similar flavor profiles, it’s clear that the reuse of the barrels from Batch 01 didn’t quite convey the same depth as the initial release did. This is not to be mistaken for the fact that the Grenache rosé wine cask finishing isn’t present, it just leaves you wanting a bit more oomph from the sip. If you’re a lover of barrel finished bourbons or a lover of rosé wine, this is a release that should be on your calendar every year.