Penelope Toasted Series Straight Bourbon Whiskey Review - Batch 23 - 305

Overview: Penelope Bourbon launched in 2018 and built its early reputation sourcing from MGP — the contract distilling giant operating out of Lawrenceburg, Indiana whose distillate ends up in more bottles than most drinkers realize. (If you’ve ever wondered why so many labels say “distilled in Indiana,” that’s a longer story worth understanding.) MGP acquired Penelope outright in 2023 for north of $100 million, which tells you the market thought they were onto something.

My theory going in was simple: Penelope, now part of MGP’s own family, should have access to the better end of what that distillery produces. Better barrel selection, tighter quality control. The Toasted Series — Batch 23-305, 5 years old, 100 proof, finished in a heavily toasted char #2 barrel — looked like the right bottle to test that theory. Distribution in California had been thin, so I picked this up while visiting family in the Chicago area, which meant I’d been looking forward to cracking it for a while. That’s relevant context, because the higher the expectations, the more the landing matters.

Age: 5 years

Proof: 100 (50% ABV)

Mashbill: Not disclosed on the bottle. Website lists 75% Corn, 21% Rye, 4% Malted Barley for a different batch (24-301).

Nose: Despite the age and the toasted finish, there’s a youthful grassy quality that catches you off guard. Classic bourbon aromas — cherry, maple syrup — are there, along with burnt sugar and a mild smokiness from the toasted barrel. A touch of heat and cinnamon spice adds some interest. Nothing offensive, but also nothing that signals this bottle is about to exceed expectations.

Palate: The early and mid-palate have good bones — vanilla, cherry, brown sugar, black pepper, cinnamon. The toasted barrel is doing something. But the elements feel disjointed rather than integrated, like a band where everyone’s playing the right notes at slightly different tempos. More time in either the primary or the finishing barrel might have pulled it together. What’s here is pleasant without being compelling.

Finish: Bright and slightly sharp, with prominent oak and a lean toward burnt and smoky rather than sweet and smooth. There’s a touch of toasted marshmallow sweetness at the end that hints at what the finish could have been with more development.

Final Thoughts: I went in expecting the MGP pedigree to show. Barrel selection and blending skill matter enormously with sourced whiskey — the same distillate can produce wildly different results depending on who’s picking the barrels and how they’re handling the finish. This batch didn’t get there. It’s not a bad pour, but at above $50 for a 5-year toasted expression, the bar is set and this falls short of it. Different batches may vary; single barrel programs are unpredictable by nature. But on this bottle, the promise of the concept outran the execution.

If You Liked This, Try…

• Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel — Toasted finish done with more integration and at a lower price point. If the concept here interested you but the execution didn’t, this is the version that delivers.
• Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series — A useful contrast: estate distilled (not sourced), wheated, same price range. Shows what a young distillery with full control of their product can do.

Rating: Bottom Shelf — Rating system explained