Penelope Barrel Strength Bourbon (Batch 12)

Taste- neat in glen cairn. This is batch 14 at 112 proof. Nose- A wonderful old leather book cover hits you first. Then a touch of ripe berries followed by traditional caramel. In the background is something more vegetable that reminds me of edame before a nice sushi dinner Palate- opens up with a pop of pepper and that leather book mustiness. I love that note! This dissipates to a bit of savoriness. After the more fiery notes give way, I get some underlying butterscotch candy. Finish- long finish, but not overstated. Those tangy berry notes hold on, and the edame comes back around to help the exit. Overall- This was a very pleasant surprise for me. Normally I am not a fan of the 4 grains in one mashbill. That "off the silo floor" malty taste wrecks my experience. This however enhanced the interest. I found it big, bold, enough to be traditional bourbon, but different enough to keep me interested. Definately a bottle that will create much conversation with friends. As you can see with my description, this would be a banger when paired with a nice sushi dinner. Leave the Sake on the shelf as this would make a super pairing

Brass in color with a bit of an amber hue. Legs are very slow to form, and very slow to move. Once they get going though, it doesn't leave much on the glass. Nose is light, with caramel, tart fruit (currants and underripe blackberries) and warm spices with undertones of malted grains. Hot on the palate right out of the gate. This comes from the proof, as well as the profile. Cinnamon and clove are all over, and a hint of white pepper all add up on each other. A bready sweetness lingers in the background and makes for a long and well balanced finish. Fine oak sawdust comes to mind, and a soft caramel chew. Naturally, a drop of water opens it up and slows down the progression of flavors. It does little to take the heat off the mid palate, though, highlighting the spiciness of this offering. Its a very solid bourbon. Complex and interesting with a medium - long finish. It lacks in richness and depth a bit and I am nonetheless satisfied!

Penelope Straight Bourbon Whiskey Cask Strength Batch #12 113.9 Proof Glass: Glencairn, rested 15 minutes. Color: Medium amber. Nose: Butterscotch with vanilla and raisins. Palate: Some oak, baking spices and cloves. Finish: Long and warm. Splash: Vanilla returns, mixed with clove and oak tannins. Overall: 8/10 - The nose is the star, and the finish is dynamite. A few drops of water calms the clove spice and allows the oak and vanilla to shine through.

Really good. Good nose, really good flavor, and not too spicey. If im picky it could be a little more full flavored on the finish, but man this is really good stuff.