I’d like to thank Penelope Bourbon and their PR partners for providing this sample with no strings attached.
I love being proved wrong. In fact, I embrace it. Especially when it comes to opinions. The main reason for this is that I love learning. Especially things about myself. I love grinding my preconceived notions under the boot heel of truth.
Case in point, I used to think that Light Whiskey was no good. You distill it to such a high proof that there is barely any flavor left? Who wants that? Flavor is the major point of differentiation between whiskey and vodka. But then I had an aged Light Whiskey sourced from MGP that was one of the more delicious things I’d tasted that year. I used to think that blends of different styles of whiskey were somehow lesser whiskeys. But then I made an infinity bottle of 2 ounces of every whiskey I reviewed in a year. It was amazing. Rosé wine used to be my favorite style when I was young. Then I found that I much preferred fruity, crisp whites and dry, robust reds and no longer really liked the sweet rosé wines I had enjoyed previously.
Of course, there are a lot more things I learned about myself and my tastes over the years, much more important things. And each of these things replaced ones that I “knew” about myself. Ones I struggled to give up on. They were strongly held beliefs that I had a hard time coming to terms with changing. But the more I learned about things, the more I learned about myself, the happier I was. Until now, if I can learn something new that upends my worldview, I get excited. I love that. Inject that shit right into me. Make me the Captain America of self-reflection. Just super serum and strange radiation and new learning muscles and …
What were we talking about? Oh yeah, whiskey somehow…
So, yeah, that got a bit odd, but I mention those learning experiences specifically because of tonight’s whiskey. Penelope Bourbon Cooper Series: Riviera is a whiskey created by blending a straight bourbon and an eight-year-old Light Whiskey and then finishing that in rosé wine casks sourced from Spain. According to the press release, “designed with spring and summer in mind, Riviera brings a coastal-inspired, lighter take to the lineup while continuing the brand’s focus on innovative cask finishing.”
So all good. While I don’t necessarily like rosé wines, I know enough about how whiskey works to know that what I like in a barrel finish isn’t always what I would like on its own. Just like I know enough about cooking to know that while I may not want to eat an ingredient like, say, black pepper on its own, a little in my meal just hits right.
So let’s see how this one tastes. At the end of the day, that’s the most important thing to learn about any whiskey.
Penelope Bourbon Cooper Series: Riviera
Purchase Info: This bottle was provided to me at no charge for review purposes. The suggested retail price is $79.99 for a 750 mL bottle.
Price per Drink (50 mL): $5.33
Details: 8-year-old Light Whiskey and straight bourbon finished in Spanish rosé wine casks. 47% ABV.
Nose: Floral vanilla, a little mint, red fruit, and baking spice.
Mouth: Floral, with notes of vanilla, cotton candy, cinnamon, leather, and oak.
Finish: Warm and long. Notes of cinnamon candies, vanilla, caramel, and oak.
Thoughts: I'm going to level with you. When I realized that this was finished in rosé wine casks, I figured that I would not like this one. I was already trying to soften the wording I thought I’d be typing below (because I really dislike being a dick, not because I would have felt the need to lighten the “score”). But honestly, this is delightful. It is really quite good. It's got a delicate sweetness that isn't cloying. It's floral without being perfumy. Lots of baking spice without being hot. Honestly, this is just a masterful job of blending and finishing. I am very pleasantly surprised, and gladly so. I like this one.
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