Penelope Bourbon Classic Series: Danny Polise Interview

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Danny Polise, Founder and Master Blender of Penelope Bourbon, returned to the Bourbon Lens podcast this week for his first appearance on the show in more than five years, joining hosts Jake Lewellen and Scott Dilley to detail the brand’s expansion from a three-product startup into a full whiskey portfolio anchored by its newly launched Classic Series.

Polise walked hosts through Penelope’s early lineup — Four Grain 80 proof, Rose Cask Finish, and Barrel Strength — before detailing how the brand’s cask finishing program grew into the Cooper Series, which now includes Rio, Havana, and Riviera. He credited Penelope’s acquisition by MGP Luxco with accelerating that growth, giving the brand access to more barrels, more mash bills, and more room to experiment.

The Evolution of Penelope Bourbon

The conversation turned to Penelope’s ready-to-pour cocktail line, including Apple Cinnamon, Peach, Black Walnut, and Blackberry, each built for a different season or occasion, before shifting to the headline news: the brand’s new Classic Series. The straight Kentucky bourbon and straight rye mark Penelope’s first large-scale work with Kentucky distillate, with the rye built from Indiana 95.5 and 51.49 rye stock and the bourbon sourced from Kentucky barrels Polise said felt “classic” from the first taste.

Both 92-proof expressions are designed to compete on everyday drinkability rather than chase limited-release hype. Lewellen and Dilley praised the rye’s citrus, orange candy, vanilla, and light herbal notes during a live tasting on the episode, calling out the value proposition of the new line.

“Penelope is a taste for all tastes,” Polise said.

Staying The Same While Expanding

He also opened up about how his blending process has evolved as Penelope’s release calendar has grown, saying, “I think if people can taste the differences, I think they’ll enjoy sort of tasting the nuances.”

On what keeps drinkers coming back to the brand’s everyday pours, Polise added, “At the end of a long day, sometimes you just wanna sit down and pour you something in that sort of ballpark.”

The episode also covered the origins of Penelope’s Architect Series and how it evolved into the golf-themed Golf Series, along with a look at barrel selection, cooperage, and how the brand balances consistency with continued experimentation.