Penelope Bourbon arrives in the UK with three new whiskies and a trio of bold cocktail ideas

Penelope Bourbon has arrived in the UK, with three intriguing expressions and a fresh take on whiskey drinking.

Founded in the US in 2018, Penelope has built its reputation around distinctive mash bills, barrel finishes and a growing collection of limited editions.  

For its UK debut, the blending-focused brand is introducing Four Grain Straight Bourbon, Wheated Bourbon and Architect Straight Bourbon. All are produced at the Ross & Squibb Distillery in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, and each offers a slightly different take on the familiar bourbon formula.

Penelope has built its reputation around distinctive mash bills, and barrel finishes…

Introducing Penelope Bourbon

Penelope Four Grain Straight Bourbon, bottled at 40% ABV, is a blend of three bourbon mash bills, combining all four traditional bourbon grains: corn (75%), wheat (15%), rye (7%) and malted barley (3%). The bourbon is aged for four years and bottled without chill filtration.

The nose offers corn sweetness, caramel and light oak. Candied fruit and vanilla emerge on the palate, followed by a finish of buttercream and vanilla spice.

Next is Penelope Wheated Bourbon, a wheat-forward four-grain blend (74% corn, 16% wheat, 7% rye, 3% malted barley) bottled at 47.5% ABV. It’s aged for between four and six years and is also non-chill filtered.

The style is smooth and rounded, with honey, toffee and butterscotch flavours. Gentle spice adds definition, leading to a warm finish with vanilla and oak.

The highest-strength release is Penelope Architect Straight Bourbon, bottled at 52% ABV. It’s made from an isolated 21% rye mash bill and aged for between four and five and a half years before being finished with French oak staves.

The staves are selected using Tonnellerie Radoux’s OakScan process, which analyses the wood to help identify its flavour potential before finishing. The result has aromas of candied cream and crème brûlée, followed by creamy vanilla and herbal spice on the palate. The finish is rich in vanilla, with a subtle warmth from the oak.

Three different whiskey cocktail recipes

To emphasise its versatility beyond neat pours, Penelope has suggested drinkers try a trio of novel cocktails.

Raspberry Bourbon Bubbles uses 50ml of Penelope Architect Bourbon and 15ml of raspberry syrup. Add both to a mixing glass filled with ice, stir until chilled and strain into two Champagne flutes. Top with champagne and garnish with fresh raspberries.

For something longer, the Bourbon Sangria combines 30ml of Penelope Four Grain Bourbon with 30ml each of cider, orange juice and red wine. Shake the bourbon, cider and orange juice with ice, strain into a highball filled with ice, then top with the red wine. Garnish with a fresh rosemary sprig and a glacier cherry.

The brand also suggests a variation on the Mint Julep, using 50ml of Penelope Wheated Bourbon, 30ml of sugar syrup, a splash of ginger beer and five fresh mint leaves. Muddle the mint with the sugar syrup, fill a Mint Julep cup with crushed ice and add the bourbon. Finish with the ginger beer and garnish with a mint sprig, fresh lemon slice and strawberry.

“In the UK people often think of whiskey as something to sip neat on a winter’s evening, but that’s only part of the story,” said Penelope Bourbon founders Mike Paladini and Daniel Polise.

“Penelope Bourbon was created for modern drinkers who want versatility, as well as flavour. Whether served long over ice, mixed into a refreshing cocktail or used as an ingredient at a barbecue, Penelope shows bourbon can be one of the most versatile drinks of the British summer.”

Available from Amazon, Penelope Four Grain Straight Bourbon sells for £33.96. Penelope Wheated Bourbon is priced at £42, while Penelope Architect Straight Bourbon is priced at £51.