Penelope Architect Build No. 8

This spirit is sourced from MGP and is a straight four-grain bourbon whiskey (Corn, Wheat, Rye, Malted Barley). It's a blend of three bourbon mash bills, aged four years, finished with two different French oak staves, and bottled at 104 proof. It has a rose copper color with strong coating legs. The nose is prominent and inviting, with notes of spicy grass/rye, sweet stone fruit, floral vanilla oak, tannins, and ethanol. It makes a great first impression. The palate opens with vanilla and tannic oak, brown sugar, and an ethanol burst, followed by cherry, sweet grain, and leather, then a peppery spice that continues into the finish. It has a coating mouthfeel that thins out in a long, lip-tingling finish. There are no off-flavors, and it drinks like it's higher proof than 104. This MGP spirit from Indiana has been skillfully tweaked and blended by the team at Penelope, leading to positive reviews. The quality is evident, and MGP produces better whiskey than many small craft distilleries, doing so at scale for years. It's worth acknowledging that MGP juice is superior to what some craft distillers will ever produce. Some have taken MGP juice and improved it effectively, while others have produced disappointing craft whiskey. Ultimately, quality matters, regardless of production scale. This bottling may divide opinions due to the French oak finish. I personally appreciate the unique flavor profile, and adding an ice cube alters it, mellowing the tannins and ethanol to let the oak shine. I will continue to enjoy this and reassess it later. It's another interesting day to be alive. Cheers.

The aroma is full of toasty notes: charred oak barrel, burnt marshmallow, caramel syrup, campfire smoke, and cinnamon rolls, with a bit of bright apricot to balance the sweetness and wood. The taste closely follows the nose, adding creme brûlée (both the caramelized sugar and custard) and almond butter, with typical MGP brightness. There's also a surprising and welcome tangerine citrus note. A slight youthful sharpness prevents the flavors from achieving the desired depth and richness. The finish prominently features toasted oak, cinnamon, white pepper, and a delicious roasted pecan flavor after everything else fades. It has a long finish for its proof. The mouthfeel is on the fuller side of medium-bodied and sufficiently oily. There's a lot to appreciate here. It's a quality, accessible spirit that provides an elevated experience at a reasonable price. I would love to try a version aged seven to nine years, but that's beside the point. At its price, it's a solid value, and I will purchase it again.

Nose 4 / Palate 4 / Finish 4 An aromatic nose, a sweet palate, and a medium-short finish with balanced sweet and spice. Compared head-to-head (unblinded) against the Architect Crème Brûlée, it was very similar, though slightly preferred due to a superior nose and a shorter yet sweeter finish.

Perfectly balanced. Just the right amount of heat, sweetness, and smoothness. A dependable classic. Well-rounded.

It's similar to a combination of Penelope BS and Maker's 46, but with a French Oak finish.

Pleasing flavor and decent mouthfeel. The finish is short and young