Penelope Bourbon

If I had to guess this blind, I would confidently say it's an Irish whiskey. The nose offers malt and damp grass, with a hint of toasted bread in the background. On the palate, I detect malt and chocolate. The finish is short with a touch of spice. It's light throughout. Very different from my initial impression where the pine notes were extremely prominent. Now, with the bottle open, there's no pine and a lot of malt (I'm always surprised by the low malt content in the actual mash bill). I've certainly grown to like it more, but considering its vegetal character, I believe some bourbon drinkers might be unpleasantly surprised.

Nose: sweet and fruity. Not very robust or complex. Taste: the sweetness comes through… similar to the nose, it’s not overpowering. There’s a slight ethanol sharpness, suggesting it might be a little too young to be a truly great sip. Palate: thin and warming, the sweetness persists throughout. Overall: I could enjoy this daily without feeling let down. It’s pleasant, not exceptional, and reminds me of an earlier version of Eagle Rare.

Young and light. The aroma consists of grain, pine, and mint. The taste is subtle, making specifics difficult, but perhaps caramel and fruit. The finish is quick but a bit bitter – my least favorite aspect. Overall, it's interesting but disappointing. However, I found myself warming to it as I drank my glass, so my perception might change after a second glass from the bottle.

The aroma presented a challenging duality, balancing sweet and floral notes against a hint of paint thinner. The taste mirrored this balancing act with metallic qualities alongside cherry and vanilla hints, yet felt generally unremarkable. The conclusion brought a burn that faded into waxiness. It wasn't the absolute worst bourbon I've encountered, but a companion and I were not enthused.

It has a light body, is smooth and sweet, with some nutty and vanilla notes. I also detect a hint of delicate florals. It leaves you wanting more, probably due to its 80 proof. It serves as a fine "introduction to bourbon" and is suitable for sipping neat each night. The drawback, much like with another brand, is that the enjoyable aspects of the flavor fade quickly, making it somewhat disappointing.

My initial impression was that it appeared too pale to be bourbon. It indeed tastes thin, with very subtle sweet and caramel notes. There's a vegetal flavor in the finish reminiscent of tequila. It's not a bad spirit, but I'm uncertain if I'd classify it as bourbon. I think I'll stick with my usual choice.