Penelope Private Select Barrel Strength Bourbon Batch 02

I'm unsure why I acquired this bourbon some years ago. Perhaps a YouTube review influenced me. Or maybe something I read. I can't recall. What I do understand is that experience is irreplaceable; one must sift through much dross to recognize quality. So, I'll consider this purchase a learning experience. The nose is heavy with ethanol. Significant rye spice, a dusty note, and some cherry are present beneath it all. A touch of hazelnut. There's a valid reason I still have a considerable amount left in this bottle. I don't believe I've sampled it since my previous review two and a half years ago (7/19/22). My impressions today are the same general ones. This bourbon (is it truly bourbon? The rear label is perplexing) is sourced from MGP. The age statement on the back--handwritten--reads "3-5 years." That range is quite broad. Percentage-wise, 5 is a 67% increase from 3. "Straight bourbon," if under four years old, requires an age statement. Indeed, this one has one. But "3-5 years" isn't very informative. Then there's the mash bill issue. The rear label states "91% rye bourbon," "5% wheat bourbon," and "4% corn bourbon." There's no such category as "rye bourbon"; by definition, a bourbon must be at least 51% corn. A rye, by definition, must be at least 51% rye. Why bother with handwritten specifics when those specifics are meaningless? I have no clue what I paid for this, but a swift online search suggests current versions (4 years old) are available for $50 or more. Would I purchase it again? No. This might work in a cocktail, but I rarely make cocktails. I would feel remiss sharing this with friends, unless they were true bourbon aficionados seeking something unconventional. 119.8 proof.

The dark mahogany color is visually appealing (though it's unclear if artificial coloring was used). The aroma is pleasant but lacks cohesion, offering notes of brown sugar, cocoa powder, peanut brittle, oak, and an overpowering ethanol. The palate brings significant heat (119.8 proof), along with leather and pipe tobacco, concluding with more heat. A faint bitterness persists. The overall impression is one of missed opportunity: while the aroma has some attractive elements, it doesn't possess the depth, complexity, or richness to compensate for the intense heat. This is likely due to its young age (discussed below), not just its high proof; other bourbons like Elijah Craig Barrel Proof and Stagg Jr. manage high heat integration effectively. Penelope sources its bourbon from MGP in Indiana. Batch 02 is bottled at 119.8 proof and is a blend of three sourced bourbons: 4% 'corn bourbon,' 91% 'rye bourbon,' and 5% 'wheat bourbon.' The meaning of these terms is ambiguous, as all bourbon must, by definition, be made from at least 51% corn. Even as mashbill descriptors: what constitutes 'corn bourbon'? (Distinct from 'corn whiskey'). What is 'rye bourbon'? There's high-rye bourbon, low-rye bourbon, even medium-rye bourbon, and no-rye bourbon. Rye whiskey requires at least 51% rye, yet 91% of this blend is labeled 'rye bourbon,' not 'rye whiskey.' This isn't mere nitpicking, but concerns fundamental definitions. The distillate is aged for 3-5 years. Note: All spirits were tasted neat in separate Glencairn glasses.