Penelope Toasted Barrel Strength Bourbon

Dark amber in color with several evenly spaced, slowly appearing legs and a nice ring of beads that hangs on the glass nicely. Nose is caramel, vanilla, brown sugar, toasted oak with undertones of milk chocolate, flaked grains, cola, and a hint of an herbal/mintyness. Soft on the palate for a barrel proof offering, some heat on the tongue. Front is not as sweet as I expected. Pecans, burnt sugar, more vanilla followed immediately by a profound but pleasant woodiness mid palate with some baking spice. Fairly long finish is complex and interesting, with waves alternating the barrel and mash bill... An almost salty character pops in and out before exiting with a burnt caramel. This is good. It's interesting and complex and only really lacks in luscious mouth feel. The malted grains are a really nice inclusion and seem to do quite a bit for it.

All I can say is wow!! I wish I had picked up one of these bottles a long time ago. This reminds me a lot of cross between wild turkey rare bread and knob creek single barrel. In the nose I get spicy oak, vanilla, brown sugar, and fresh baked cinnamon buns. One the palate I get a dark sweetness like brown sugar, then comes the baking spice cinnamon and some clove. This finish is light with a touch of charred oak and oily mouth feel. The finish defiantly lingers and makes my mouth water. Hands down would defiantly purchase again do not overlook Penelope great bottle at a fair price. Tasting notes from batch 94 4-5yr old char # 3 heavy toast, proof 116 @ 58%.

Batch 22-02 Pours a copper color, fairly thin legs. Nose: Honey, walnuts/pecans, very little fruit, but mellow sweetness. Taste: Oak, savory, some heat. Sweet corn, definitely pick up the wheat sweetness as well. Surprisingly good roasted flavors from only a level 1 char. I pick up some of the rye spice, but not much of the rye flavor given the 20% range. Finish: Sweet corn bread with rye spice. Fairly quick finish, but enjoyable. Overall: 4/5. Probably my favorite of the Penelope series. I’m not a huge four grain fan, but this is very balanced and well blended. I think it’s worth the price point and give it a “buy it” recommendation.

Batch 81, 4.5 years, 115 proof, Char 5, Medium Toast. I'm surprised by the lack of wood, oak, and toast flavors in this. Their impacts are there, but I expected more oak. The nose has a hint of oaky sweetness. The palate not too complex. The extracted wood sugars are at the forefront with sweet fruit notes and a little heat from the proof. The finish is more sweetness, a hint of vanilla, and then some light tannic drying.

PREPARED -Neat SMELL -butterscotch. -bran, or some type of oaty cereal -a little musty, just a hint. TASTE -a little licorice? -a little hot. -thick. Almost chewing it. -that mustiness came through a bit more at the end. THOUGHTS For 116 proof I'm glad it didn't burn my tounge off haha. It's a little hot but very manageable, I just wish the burn was smoother throughout. I like the Penelope toasted a lot more.

Been a fan lately of Penelope series. Got the chance to try the toasted. On the nose: Deep walnut, Cherry Palate: Brown sugar, Sweet Rye Finish: Has a tangy, almost orange finish. Could have done more with the flavor on the finish. But otherwise of your a higher proof fan or love rye, I really enjoyed this one.