Remus Repeal Reserve Series IX

I’d like to thank Ross & Squibb and their entire PR team for providing this with no strings attached.

IMAGE: Bottle of Remus Repeal Reserve IX Straight Bourbon Whiskey, 104 proof, on a wooden deck rail with trees and greenery blurred in the background.

Seventy-second Congress of the United States of America;
At the Second Session,

Begun and held at the City of Washington on Monday, the fifth
day of December, one thousand nine hundred and thirty-three

--

JOINT RESOLUTION
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States.

--

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled (two-thirds of each House concurring therein), That the following article is hereby proposed as an amendment to the Constitution of the United States, which shall be valid to all intents and purposes as part of the Constitution when ratified by conventions in three-fourths of the several States:

"Article —

"SECTION 1. The eighteenth article of amendment to the Constitution of the United States is hereby repealed.

"SECTION 2. The transportation or importation into any State, Territory, or possession of the United States for delivery or use therein of intoxicating liquors, in violation of the laws thereof, is hereby prohibited.

"SECTION 3. This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by conventions in the several States, as provided in the Constitution, within seven years from the date of the submission hereof to the States by the Congress."


And so, just shy of 92 years ago, the 18th Amendment to the United States Constitution—and National Prohibition—was repealed. All in all, it’s a short piece of law. The introduction is longer than the amendment itself. What it lacked in size, it made up for in consequence. First and foremost, it allowed the Federal Government to get out of the way of a citizen's ability to have a drink. There were, of course, other consequences. The one most pertinent to tonight's post is that it also allowed the murderous scofflaws and bootleggers of the Prohibition era to fade into the sort of romanticized characters that only the distance of time can allow—people such as George Remus: pharmacist, bootlegger, lawyer, and murderer. 

Remus was a pharmacist turned Chicago criminal defense lawyer. In Daniel Okrent's book Last Call: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition, Remus is described as having an inside look at the workings of Prohibition and the immense profits to be made outside the law. His plan was far more sophisticated than a smash-and-grab. He ended up buying both distillery stocks and brands (including names like Fleischmann's and Jack Daniel's), as well as a pharmacy where he could sell those stocks as medicinal products.

He would legally withdraw bourbon from bonded warehouses, but on the way to his pharmacy, the trucks would sometimes be “hijacked.” Of course, they were hijacked by his own men. Why would he divert the booze into an illegal market when he could profit from both the sale of liquor to his pharmacy and to the public? Well, that's pretty easy when you think of why he got into it in the first place. The profits are higher on the black market since there are no taxes to be paid on it.

On May 17, 1922, The New York Times reported that Remus was charged with conspiring to violate Prohibition laws. He and 13 others were sentenced to the Atlanta penitentiary for terms ranging from a year and a day to two years, depending on the defendant. Okrent notes that Remus’s cell was posh—decorated with flowers, where he was even waited on by servants. During his time behind bars, his wife took up with another man, and together they burned through the fortune he had accumulated. (Some stories claim this man was the agent who put Remus behind bars; others say he was an undercover agent in the prison who learned of Remus’s wealth and took advantage of the situation.)

In either case, newspaper reports state that his wife’s affair drove him temporarily insane—long enough that he had his chauffeur chase down the car she was riding in so he could shoot her in front of her daughter from a previous marriage. Even in the earliest trial reports, though, there’s an undercurrent suggesting what truly enraged him was the loss of his money. For this crime, he was committed to an insane asylum for a very short time (about three weeks) before he “proved” he was sane and was released.

After that, he lived in Cincinnati for the rest of his life and, as far as I can tell, stayed on the right side of the law. Today, he gets mentioned in discussions of Prohibition but is otherwise mostly forgotten—aside from having a bourbon brand named after him. People love to celebrate that time period. Although maybe he’s not the type of person who should have been celebrated.

The bourbon, though, is well worth celebrating—especially the yearly Remus Repeal Reserve. So let’s talk about this year’s release, shall we? Series IX is bottled at 104 proof, the highest yet for one of these editions. As always, it’s a blend of mashbills and ages: 7% 18-year-old MGP 21% rye bourbon, 26% 11-year-old MGP 36% rye bourbon, 23% 10-year-old MGP 36% rye bourbon, and 44% 10-year-old MGP 21% rye bourbon

So let’s see how it tastes.

Remus Repeal Reserve Series IX

Purchase Info: This bottle was sent at no charge for review purposes. The suggested retail price is $99.99 for a 750 mL bottle.

Price per Drink (50 mL): $6.67

Details: A blend of 18-year-old MGP 21% rye bourbon (7%), 11-year-old MGP 36% rye bourbon (26%), 10-year-old MGP 36% rye bourbon (23%), and 10-year-old MGP 21% rye bourbon (44%). 52% ABV.

Nose: Oak, stone fruit, cotton candy, vanilla, almond, and a hint of baking spice underneath.

Mouth: Spicy and sweet with a good bit of oak. Notes of vanilla, caramel, baking spice, almond, stone fruit, and oak.

Finish: Medium in length and warmth with notes of oak, baking spice, and a touch of almond.

IMAGE: A hand-drawn smiley face. It denotes that I like the product.

Thoughts: Another delicious release in a long line of delicious Remus Repeal Reserve releases. I'm really digging the rich and thick mouthfeel. There is a lot of oak throughout, but not so much that it is overwhelming. The baking spice and vanilla give it a" classic bourbon" flavor profile that the stone fruit elevates. All in all, I will be buying this if and when I see it, so I think it is safe to say I like it. 


If you want to support our work at BourbonGuy.com, please consider a one-time donation at ko-fi.com/bourbonguy or paypal.me/BourbonGuy. Or you could buy some merch that I’ve designed and/or built (tasting journals, t-shirts, stickers, pins, signs, posters, and more) at BourbonGuyGifts.com. Use code BOURBONGUYREADER at checkout for 5% off any order of $50 or more.

Coppercraft 9 Year Old Straight Bourbon

I’d like to thanks CraftCo and their PR team for sending me this sample with no strings attached.

IMAGE: A bottle of Coppercraft Distillery 9-Year Straight Bourbon Whiskey, 90.6 proof, from Holland, Michigan, sitting on a wooden railing with a blurred green yard and trees in the background.

When I first published a review of Coppercraft Bourbon back in May of ’24, most of the comments I received told me that if I ever got the chance to grab one of their 9-year-old single barrels, I should do it. Well, I never did see one of those, but I recently was offered a sample of their new 9-Year-Old Small Batch Bourbon, which I happily accepted.

Coppercraft Distillery is a craft distillery in Holland, Michigan, a small city on the shores of Lake Michigan. It was founded in 2012 and is slated to reopen in August of 2025. It produces gin, vodka, applejack, rum, canned cocktails, a partially sourced rye, and sourced bourbons. Coppercraft is part of the CraftCo portfolio, which also includes Fox & Oden (reviewed here back in October of last year). CraftCo, in turn, is owned by the DeVos-backed Windquest Group based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. According to an email from their PR team, this bourbon is “Distilled in Indiana,” much like its portfolio mates. The company doesn’t provide much more information than that. However, I don’t know about you, but for me, “Distilled in Indiana” on an unknown bourbon is a plus. If it’s coming from MGP, it will probably fall somewhere between pretty darn good and great.

So what makes this different than any other bourbon sourced from Indiana? To find out, I asked their PR team about the “brandy-inspired” slow proofing of the barrels. They explained that it takes a few weeks to bring the whiskey down to proof, and they do this in the barrel by adding what is known in the cognac world as “petites eaux.” Not knowing what that was (I’m not the Cognac Guy, after all), I did some digging online and found what I believe to be a great definition.

“For an added layer of intrigue, there is something unique that can be used in place of or in combination with water called petites eaux. Petites eaux (“little water” in French) is water that has been placed to “age” in an empty, used Cognac barrel. The water will slowly pull any remaining alcohol out of the barrel staves. According to Nicholas Faith’s book ‘Cognac: The Story of the World’s Greatest Brandy,’ this water solution can get up to around 20% ABV after several months, which shows how much alcohol can potentially still be left inside the barrel staves. Petites eaux is used as a slower method of lowing the proof and, in a way, adding different aromas or flavors.” — CognacReverie.com, accessed July 23, 2025

So basically, it’s adding water to a barrel that previously held bourbon and using it to pull out more whiskey trapped in the wood. Essentially, they’re proofing it down with something akin to an extremely low-proof bourbon. Jim Beam uses a similar process for Devil’s Cut, which, in my opinion, is an improvement over standard Jim Beam White (or at least it was the last time I had either, which was a few years ago).

So, let’s see how it tastes, shall we?

Coppercraft 9 Year Old Straight Bourbon

Purchase Info: This bottle was sent to me by the producer, at no charge, for review purposes. The suggested retail price is $37.99 for a 750 mL bottle.

Price per Drink (50 mL): $2.53

Details: 45.3% ABV. 9 years old. Distilled in Indiana (from PR email, not on bottle).

Nose: Nutty, vanilla, almond, green apple, baking spice, and a hint of wintergreen.

Mouth: Mint, green apple, caramel, cinnamon, and almond.

Finish: Medium in length and warmth. Lingering notes of wintergreen, vanilla, green apple, and almond.

IMAGE: A hand-drawn smiley face which denotes that I like the product.

Thoughts: Total mint bomb—but not in a bad way. If you’re sensitive to mint notes, skip it. However, if you don’t mind mint, this is quite tasty. You might notice that there is one thing I didn’t call out above that I thought I’d notice in there. And that is oak. At nine years old, I expected more of it, but nine years—while a decent length of time to age—isn’t twelve or fifteen, where oak tends to dominate. Overall, I like it. I especially appreciate seeing an age-stated bourbon for under $40.


If you want to support our work at BourbonGuy.com, please consider a one-time donation at ko-fi.com/bourbonguy or paypal.me/BourbonGuy. Or you could buy some merch that I’ve designed and/or built (tasting journals, t-shirts, stickers, pins, signs, posters, and more) at BourbonGuyGifts.com. Use code BOURBONGUYREADER at checkout for 5% off any order of $50 or more.

Remus Babe Ruth Reserve, 2025

I’d like to thank Ross & Squibb Distillery and their PR team for providing this sample with no strings attached.

IMAGE: A bottle of Remus Babe Ruth Reserve Straight Bourbon Whiskey sits on a weathered wooden railing, labeled as a 2025 media sample with 111 proof (55.5% ABV) and a medley of 3 mash bills, against a leafy green backyard background.

And I’m back. A day late, but not a dollar short. Or something. Completely forgot what day it was yesterday as I was traveling to get yet another tattoo. So, let’s jump right in and make sure you don’t have to wait any longer.

Remus Babe Ruth Reserve is the latest special release from Ross & Squibb Distillery. This time, they’ve teamed up with the Babe Ruth Family to release 8,399 bottles of bourbon—one for each of the Bambino’s at-bats. It carries a suggested retail price of $149.99, which, all things considered, isn’t bad for a limited release these days. The blend consists of three different high-rye bourbon mashbills: 73% of the blend comes from their 49% rye bourbon distilled in 2017, 15% from a 44% rye bourbon distilled in 2016, and the remaining 12% from their 36% rye bourbon, also distilled in 2017. The final product is bottled at 111 proof.

Quoting the producer now:

“We’re honored to pay homage to one of baseball’s icons with our latest collector’s release of Remus Babe Ruth Reserve,” said Ian Stirsman, master distiller of Ross & Squibb Distillery. “Our 2025 edition is masterfully crafted and is sure to give baseball fans and high-rye bourbon lovers a unique and memorable way to celebrate America’s pastime and its most legendary player.”

So, let’s see how it tastes.

Remus Babe Ruth Reserve, 2025

Purchase Info: This 200 mL sample was provided by the producer at no charge for review purposes. The suggested retail price is $149.99 for a 750 mL bottle.

Price per Drink (50 mL): $10

Details: 55.5% ABV. Blend of Mashbills: 73% 2017 49% rye bourbon, 15% 2016 44% rye bourbon, and 12% 2017 36% rye bourbon.

Nose: Toffee, bubblegum, wintergreen, and oak.

Mouth: Nice and spicy. Notes of cinnamon, caramel, vanilla, and oak.

Finish: Warm and long. Notes follow the nose with caramel, bubblegum, wintergreen, cinnamon, and oak.

IMAGE: a hand-drawn smiley face that denotes that I like the product.

Thoughts: Whoooo boy, is this one spicy in the mouth. But in a good way—spicy enough that I picked out the finish notes before the ones on the palate because I needed to swallow first. Once you get acclimated, though, the sweet and spicy notes come through quite nicely. I'm a fan. It’s a little expensive for my budget, but if yours has more room in it than mine, this is mighty tasty.


If you want to support our work at BourbonGuy.com, please consider a one-time donation at ko-fi.com/bourbonguy or paypal.me/BourbonGuy. Or you could buy some merch that I’ve designed and/or built (tasting journals, t-shirts, stickers, pins, signs, posters, and more) at BourbonGuyGifts.com. Use code BOURBONGUYREADER at checkout for 5% off any order of $50 or more.

Remus Master Distiller Experimental Series No. 1

I’d like to thank Ross & Squibb and the Brand Guild for providing this sample with no strings attached.

IMAGE: Bottle of Remus Master Distiller Experimental Series No. 1 bourbon on a wooden deck, labeled 9 years old, 107 proof, 53.5% ABV, with a backyard scene in the background.

And here we are—back to talking about new bourbon releases! I received this particular sample just before we went on break for the bracket series. And here’s a little secret: I wrote all of those posts ahead of time, so I’ve actually had a nice three-week break from writing. Of course, I was sick for the first chunk of that, so it was more like a week and a half off... but whatever. I’m just happy to be back and talking about bourbon again.

There’s been a bit of turmoil since I was last here. Buffalo Trace—and a large portion of Kentucky—has flooded. The economy is unsettled and doing weird things. There’s a lot of anger and finger-pointing going around. But at the end of the day, no matter our views on the state of the world, we can all bond over bourbon. So let’s get to it, shall we?

Tonight’s bourbon is a limited release. So limited, in fact, that it will only be available in a handful of states: AZ, CA, CT, KS, MA, MD, MO, NY, OH, TX, UT, WA, and WI. It was aged for nine years in lightly charred but heavily toasted Seguin Moreau barrels. According to the press release, the staves of those barrels were aged for 24 months. The bourbon was bottled at 107 proof, and the suggested retail price is $79.99.

Let’s dig in.

Remus Master Distiller Experimental Series No. 1

Purchase Info: This 200 mL sample was provided by the producer for review purposes at no charge. The suggested retail price is $79.99 for a 750 mL bottle.

Price per Drink (50 ml): $5.33

Details: Nine years old. 53.5% ABV.

Nose: Smokey toffee, strong floral vanilla, and oak.

Mouth: Spicy and sweet with notes of tobacco, caramel, vanilla, almond, and oak.

Finish: Medium length and sweet with notes of toffee, almond, and vanilla.

IMAGE: A hand drawn smile. This signifies that I like tonight’s bourbon.

Thoughts: This is delicious. Super sweet caramel and toffee notes run throughout, with a solid hit of oak to balance the sweetness. I’m finding that it drinks a bit hotter than the 107 proof suggests—though it’s more “spicy” than “hot.” It’s not like you need to water it down to enjoy it; there’s just some nice heat in the experience. I’m a big fan of this one: rich, thick, spicy, and sweet.


If you want to support our work at BourbonGuy.com, please consider a one-time donation at ko-fi.com/bourbonguy or paypal.me/BourbonGuy. Or you could buy some merch that I’ve designed and/or built (tasting journals, t-shirts, stickers, pins, signs, posters, and more) at BourbonGuyGifts.com. Use code BOURBONGUYREADER at checkout for 5% off any order of $50 or more.

Penelope Cooper Series: Havana

I’d like to thank ByrnePR and Penelope Bourbon for providing this review sample with no strings attached.

IMAGE: A bottle of Penelope Bourbon from the Cooper Series, labeled "Havana," displayed on a wooden railing with fresh snow. The background features a winter landscape with trees and a shed.

Jumping straight into the bourbon tonight. With President’s Day on the horizon, a lot of my fellow Minnesotans are heading to warmer weather since schools have the day off. Which means I am up to my ears in dogs. So let’s get to it.

Havana is the latest release in Penelope Bourbon’s Cooper Series. We looked at another entry in the series a little under a year ago when we reviewed the Penelope Rio release. Like that one, this is a barrel-finished bourbon. In this case, it uses Penelope’s blended four-grain mash bill: 74% corn, 16% wheat, 7% rye, and 3% malted barley. Much like Rio, this bourbon spent time in three different barrels.

First, the bourbon was aged for four years. Once dumped, it was then finished in used Caribbean rum casks for an additional 12 months. Finally, it was aged for another month in a barrel that was previously used to hold maple syrup. Fun fact: that maple syrup barrel originally spent the first part of its life aging none other than Penelope Bourbon. Life is a circle sometimes.

Here’s what the company has to say about this latest edition of the Cooper Series:

“This is much more than a rum-finished bourbon – it’s a standout in our collection of cask-finished bourbons,” said Danny Polise, Penelope Bourbon Founder and Master Blender. “The maple finish is the perfect complement to the initial rum-finished bourbon by further elevating the blend and creating balance between savory, sweet and oak spice.”

Let’s get into the tasting notes.

Penelope Cooper Series: Havana

Purchase Info: This bottle was provided by the producer for review purposes. The suggested retail price is $79.99 for a 750 mL bottle.

Price per Drink (50 mL): $5.33

Details: 46.5% ABV. Cask-finished in both maple syrup and used rum barrels. Composite mash bill: 74% corn, 16% wheat, 7% rye, and 3% malted barley.

Nose: Oak, maple candy, and vanilla.

Mouth: Very sweet, spicy, maple, molasses, and vanilla.

Finish: Medium length and warmth. Lingering notes of molasses, oak, baking spice, and vanilla.

IMAGE: A hand-drawn face with a frown, its tongue sticking out and crossed out eyes. It signifies that I gave this a dislike rating.

Thoughts: I think this might be the first Penelope release that doesn't get a positive rating from me. When tasting neat, I found the flavors to be oddly disjointed and not well-balanced. It is super sweet, and the spiciness on the palate isn’t really reminiscent of baking spice—it’s just mostly heat. There is also an oddly prominent ethanol note, which I will sometimes get in a highball made with soda that is too sweet. I’m not a fan. However, with the addition of bitters and ice, Penelope Havana makes a decent Old Fashioned.

I have no doubt that I am an outlier on this one. The other reviews I scanned while seeing if Google would take me directly to the product page are all pretty positive—at least in the short snippets that appear in search results. But I can only speak to my own tasting experience, and it wasn’t positive. As always, I’m not saying it’s bad—I’m just saying: I don’t like it.

That said, I wouldn’t mind trying a cocktail made with bourbon, rum, and maple syrup. Might have to play with that a bit.


If you want to support our work at BourbonGuy.com, please consider a one-time donation at ko-fi.com/bourbonguy or paypal.me/BourbonGuy. Or you could buy some merch that I’ve designed and/or built (tasting journals, t-shirts, stickers, pins, signs, posters, and more) at BourbonGuyGifts.com. Use code BOURBONGUYREADER at checkout for 5% off any order of $50 or more.

Penelope Estate Collection 2024, Single Barrel and Private Select

I’d like to thank ByrnePR and Penelope Bourbon for providing this review sample with no strings attached.

IMAGE: Two bottles of Penelope Estate Collection bourbon on a wooden railing, with a snowy backyard featuring trees, a shed, and a boat in the background.

Last September, Penelope Bourbon announced the release of a line of bourbons with a bit of extra age on them. Instead of their usual four- to six-year-old bourbons, this line would feature bourbons aged nine to eleven years. When I saw the email come across my desk, I won’t lie—I was pretty excited to see that I might be getting a sample of at least some of them. I’ve enjoyed Penelope’s bourbons in the past, particularly those with unusual barrel finishes. They always seem to teach me about some obscure wine or spirit I hadn’t encountered before.

I wasn’t going to learn much this time. However, I did get a reminder that MGP makes some damn fine bourbon. As is to be expected from a company under the MGP/Ross & Squib/Lux Row umbrella. I’m a fan of most things that they put out. But this time there are no barrel finishes, just good bourbon, expertly blended, at least for the non-single barrel one.

Now, let’s dive into the two bourbons I’ll be reviewing tonight. I received samples of one of the single barrels and the Private Select, the latter being a blend of bourbons with both wheated and rye mashbills. Here’s how the brand describes each:

Penelope Private Select is an annual release that pushes the boundaries of what blended bourbon can be. This innovative expression showcases the unique characteristics of the finest 9-year-aged straight bourbon barrel stocks hand-selected from two different states. Bottled at 101.2 proof (50.6% ABV), the 2024 release features a mash bill of 74% corn, 20% rye, 1% wheat and 5% malted barley.

Penelope Single Barrel reveals the character that lies within the finest aged bourbon stocks. Each 10-year-aged barrel has been hand-selected from various warehouses and floors, revealing profiles too exceptional to blend. With two rye mash bill options – 21% and 36% –Penelope Single Barrel is a celebration of the individuality and complexity that can only be found in a single barrel of well-aged bourbon.

Penelope Estate Collection Single Barrel, 21% rye Mashbill

Purchase Info: This bottle was sent to me at no charge for review purposes. The suggested retail price is $89.99 for a 750 mL bottle.

Price per Drink (50 mL): $6.00

Details: 10 years old; Mashbill: 75% corn, 4% malted barley, 21% rye; 49% ABV.

Nose: Cinnamon, chocolate, wintergreen, and red fruits.

Mouth: Cinnamon, mint, black tea, and caramel.

Finish: Warm with medium length; notes of cinnamon, caramel, and black tea.

IMAGE: This is a smiley face. Because I like it.

Thoughts: This is very tasty. I’m really enjoying the sweetness and oak-derived notes. The cinnamon spice balances beautifully with the other flavors. It’s a well-rounded and very enjoyable barrel. If the rest of the barrels in this release are this good, this is definitely one to keep an eye out for—especially at under $100.


Penelope Estate Collection Private Select

Purchase Info: This bottle was sent 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: Composite mashbill: 74% corn, 20% rye, 1% wheat, 5% malted barley; 9 years old; 50.6% ABV.

Nose: Mint, almond, and vanilla custard.

Mouth: Spicy and sweet with notes of caramel, cinnamon, vanilla, and almond.

Finish: Medium length and warm; notes of cinnamon, caramel, marshmallow, and almond.

IMAGE: A yummy bourbon always gets a smiley face.

Thoughts: This is very good—maybe not quite as impressive as the single barrel, but certainly not "$10 worse," so to speak. Like the single barrel, I love the balance of sweet and spicy notes. If you can swing spending $80–$90 on a bottle of bourbon, this is another one that is well worth a look.


If you enjoy BourbonGuy.com, consider supporting us! Make a one-time donation at ko-fi.com/bourbonguy or paypal.me/BourbonGuy. You can also shop our custom merch—tasting journals, t-shirts, stickers, pins, signs, posters, and more—at BourbonGuyGifts.com. Use code BOURBONGUYREADER for 5% off orders of $50 or more!

Fox & Oden Straight Bourbon Whiskey

I’d like to thanks CraftCo and their PR team for sending me this sample with no strings attached.

IMAGE: Fox & Oden Straight Bourbon Whiskey bottle on a turquoise wooden table, with a natural background of trees and a fence. The bottle has a classic label and a sealed cork top.

Hey, it’s bonus review time here at the BourbonGuy house. Samples are stacking up faster than we can taste them, so I figured, “Why not just do some bonus posts?” And here we are.

Fox & Oden is one of the many brands in the CraftCo portfolio, along with the CopperCraft bourbon we reviewed back in May. CraftCo, in turn, is part of the DeVos-owned Windquest Group based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Much like its portfolio-mate, this bourbon is also "Distilled in Indiana." According to the brand’s website, this particular bourbon is a blend of eight- and fifteen-year-old bourbons, utilizing both MGP’s 21% Rye and 36% Rye bourbon mashbills.

The company doesn’t provide much more information beyond that. However, I don’t know about you, but for me, "Distilled in Indiana" on an unknown bourbon is a plus. If it’s coming from MGP, it will probably fall somewhere between pretty darn good and great. So, let’s see how it tastes, shall we?

Fox & Oden Straight Bourbon

Purchase Info: This bottle was sent to me at no charge for review purposes. The suggested retail price is $99.99.

Price per drink (50 mL): $6.67

Details: 49.5% ABV. A blend of 8- and 15-year-old bourbons using MGP’s 21% and 36% Rye bourbon mashbills.

Nose: Brown sugar, red fruit, and a lot of oak.

Mouth: Caramel, cinnamon, leather, and oak.

Finish: Warm and medium in length, with notes of red fruit, orange zest, almond, and oak.

Thoughts: In a very rare occurrence, my oak-loving wife pronounced this as being too oaky. Once the shock of such a statement from her had worn off, I was forced to agree. But I tend to have a low bar when it comes to calling something "over-oaked." By no means does this taste like you’re sucking on a stick or anything, but oak and oak-derived notes like leather are the predominant flavors here, with other notes playing a supporting role. It’s good, but I’m not sure I’d personally pay $100 for it. That said, this would be an easy recommendation for someone who enjoys oak-forward bourbons and doesn’t think twice about dropping a hundred bucks on a single bottle.


If you want to support our work at BourbonGuy.com, please consider a one-time donation at ko-fi.com/bourbonguy or paypal.me/BourbonGuy. Or you could buy some merch that I’ve designed and/or built (tasting journals, t-shirts, stickers, pins, signs, posters, and more) at BourbonGuyGifts.com. Use code BOURBONGUYREADER at checkout for 5% off any order of $50 or more.

Penelope Valencia

I’d like to thank ByrnePR and Penelope Bourbon for providing this review sample with no strings attached.

IMAGE: Penelope Bourbon Valencia bottle with bold gold lettering, set on a turquoise bench, showcasing a orange label indicating it is finished in Vino de Naranja barrels.

The thing I like most about these barrel-finished Penelope releases, other than the whiskey of course, is that I always learn something new about a different style of wine. I’m going to tell you right now, I had no idea what Vino de Naranja was. And if you’re like me—a curious person who enjoys learning new things, especially about unfamiliar drinks we might like—you might find this interesting.

So, what is Vino de Naranja? The simplest explanation is that it’s a Spanish white wine infused with orange peels through maceration. Basically, they soak the orange peels in the wine until they get the flavor they’re looking for. According to Wikipedia, this “orange wine” is primarily produced in Huelva and Málaga in Andalucía, Spain.

Now, let’s talk about this bourbon from MGP’s Penelope brand. As always, this is a blend of different mashbills, some using rye as a flavoring grain, and others using wheat. This is how they get to what they call their Four Grain bourbon. The composite mashbill for this one works out to 74% corn, 16% wheat, 7% rye, and 3% malted barley. The component bourbons were aged between four and five years in barrels with a No. 4 char level (No. 2 on the barrel heads). According to the brand’s website, the blend was then finished for up to a year in Vino de Naranja wine casks from Seville, Spain, before being bottled at a non-chill-filtered 95 proof.

Let’s see how it tastes.

Penelope Valencia

Purchase Info: This sample was provided for review purposes at no cost. The suggested retail price is $79.99

Price per Drink (50 mL): $5.33

Details: 47.5% ABV. A blend of three bourbon mashbills. Composite mashbill: 74% corn, 16% wheat, 7% rye, and 3% malted barley. 4- to 5-year-old bourbon finished in Vino de Naranja casks for about a year.

Nose: Caramel, nutmeg, and a hint of candied orange peel.

Mouth: Syrupy mouthfeel. Notes of Cinnamon, nutmeg, caramel, and a floral orange note.

Finish: Medium in warmth and length, with strong notes of floral orange. Baking spice and oak notes support the orange.

IMAGE: A Smile because I love this in an old-fashioned, but it is too sweet for me to enjoy outside of a cocktail.

Thoughts: This is a bit too sweet for me when neat, but toss some bitters and just a touch of your favorite sweetener in with it, zest an orange peel over it, and boy, do you have a hell of an old-fashioned. I can also see this being a good after-dinner drink or “dessert” whiskey.


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