Penelope Straight Bourbon 750ML is a four-grain straight bourbon whiskey bottled at 80 proof (40% ABV) in a 750ml format. What makes this expression genuinely unusual is its mashbill — rather than relying on a single grain recipe, it marries three distinct bourbon mashbills sourced from MGP's Lawrenceburg, Indiana distillery into a combined four-grain profile that includes both wheat and rye as flavoring grains, a construction rarely seen at this scale in American whiskey.

Quick Facts: ABV: 40% (80 Proof)  |  Origin: Lawrenceburg, Indiana, USA  |  Age: 4 Years  |  Distillery: Ross & Squibb Distillery (MGP)

Production & Heritage

Penelope Bourbon sources its whiskey from MGP's Ross & Squibb Distillery in Lawrenceburg, Indiana — one of the most prolific contract distilleries in North America, known for supplying dozens of established bourbon brands. The Four Grain expression blends three separate MGP mashbills: a 21% rye bourbon, a 99/1 bourbon, and a 45% wheat bourbon. Once combined, the final grain bill lands at approximately 75% corn, 15% wheat, 7% rye, and 3% malted barley. Each mashbill component is aged separately for four years in barrels with #4 char staves and #2 char heads before being married and bottled. The result sidesteps the traditional either/or choice between wheated and high-rye bourbon by incorporating both secondary grains into a single whiskey.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with brown sugar and fresh corn sweetness, followed by caramel and a hint of cut Granny Smith apple. Deeper breaths reveal light oak, candied vanilla, and a faint suggestion of cherry and leather.

Taste: On entry, the palate is noticeably sweet — caramel and soft tropical fruit lead, cushioned by the wheat component's inherent softness. At the mid-palate, savory vanilla and a touch of citrus emerge, with the rye grain introducing a gentle peppery spice that prevents the sweetness from becoming one-dimensional. The overall mouthfeel is light and approachable.

Finish: The finish is moderate in length with buttercream and cornbread notes trailing off into lingering vanilla spice. A subtle berry sweetness rounds out the close, leaving a clean and balanced impression.

How to Drink Penelope Bourbon

At 80 proof, Penelope Four Grain drinks comfortably neat or over a single large ice cube, where the wheat-softened sweetness becomes even more pronounced. Its lighter body and balanced profile also make it a versatile cocktail base. A Bourbon Old Fashioned benefits from the caramel and vanilla backbone without excessive heat. A Whiskey Sour plays well against the tropical fruit notes, letting the citrus and grain complement each other. A Paper Plane — with Aperol, Amaro Nonino, and lemon — finds natural harmony with Penelope's sweet-spice duality.

Best For

• Introducing a bourbon newcomer to whiskey's range beyond single-grain expressions
• Building a home bar with a versatile, cocktail-friendly bourbon
• Exploring how wheat and rye interact as dual flavoring grains in bourbon
• Gifting a whiskey enthusiast who appreciates unconventional mashbill construction

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Penelope Bourbon taste like? Penelope Four Grain Straight Bourbon leads with caramel sweetness and light tropical fruit, balanced by gentle rye spice and vanilla. The wheat component adds a notably soft, rounded mouthfeel that keeps the overall impression approachable and sweet-leaning.

How does Penelope Bourbon compare to Basil Hayden? Both Penelope Four Grain and Basil Hayden are bottled at 80 proof and occupy a similar price tier, making them frequent shelf neighbors. The key difference is grain emphasis — Basil Hayden leans into a high-rye mashbill that delivers more pronounced spice, while Penelope's wheat-and-rye blend produces a sweeter, softer flavor profile.

Is Penelope Bourbon good for sipping neat? Yes — at 40% ABV with a wheat-softened grain bill, it drinks smoothly without significant ethanol bite, making it a comfortable neat sipper for both experienced drinkers and those newer to bourbon.

Where is Penelope Bourbon made? Penelope Four Grain Straight Bourbon is distilled at the Ross & Squibb Distillery (operated by MGP Ingredients) in Lawrenceburg, Indiana. MGP is one of the largest bourbon distilleries in the United States and supplies whiskey to numerous well-known brands.

What foods pair well with Penelope Bourbon? The caramel sweetness pairs naturally with pecan pie or bread pudding. Smoked pork shoulder complements the bourbon's vanilla and oak notes. Aged cheddar or Gruyère plays against the gentle rye spice. Grilled stone fruit like peaches echoes the tropical and berry aromas found in the glass.

What sizes does Penelope Bourbon come in? The standard expression is widely available in a 750ml bottle, which is the most commonly distributed format.

Is Penelope Bourbon worth the price? Penelope Four Grain positions as a mid-tier bourbon that competes with other $40–$50 shelf options like Basil Hayden and Woodford Reserve. Its four-grain construction offers a genuine point of differentiation in a crowded category, making it a solid value for drinkers curious about non-traditional mashbill approaches.

Why Penelope Bourbon?

In a bourbon market dominated by either wheated or high-rye recipes, Penelope Four Grain takes the unusual step of incorporating both wheat and rye — along with corn and malted barley — into a single expression by blending three separate MGP mashbills. That four-grain construction is not merely a marketing angle; it produces a measurably different flavor profile that balances the softness of a wheater with the spice of a rye-forward bourbon. The four-year age statement and #4 char staves add enough oak structure to give the whiskey depth without bitterness. For drinkers who find wheated bourbons too one-note or high-rye expressions too aggressive, Penelope occupies a genuinely useful middle ground that few competitors have attempted at this accessibility and proof point.