Last year, Penelope Rio took the bourbon and whiskey world by storm. People were fitting over the unique pour. It was one of the most sought-after whiskeys, but the whiskey community appeared to be split. Penelope Rio is back with a new batch and, while I didn’t get a taste of first batch, I am excited to dive into this latest rendition.
Just the Facts: Penelope Rio
- Style: Finished Bourbon (American Honey & Amburana)
- Mashbill: 74% corn, 16% wheat, 7% rye, 3% malted barley
- Proof: 98
- Age: Non Aged Stated
- Price: $89.99
Tasting Notes: Penelope Rio
Nose: Very welcoming on the nose, touch of butterscotch, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg with waves of sweet honey.
Palate: The barrel spice wakes up your palate right away. Notes of cinnamon, tobacco, butterscotch, cream soda with a tingle of pop rocks that made the whiskey dance on my palate.
Finish: Lingering cinnamon and vanilla. A note of Pop Rocks candies lingered with me for a very long time.
Closing Thoughts:
This is one wild pour. If you are looking for something to surprise your friends at the end of the night, this would be the one. Penelope Rio has a ton of flavor. Seek this one out if you are looking to have one of the more unique whiskeys on the market.
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Finished in American honey barrel and Amburana? Amburana ok… but honey barrel? Where does one source a honey barrel? Point me to a honey producer resting honey in a barrel. I can’t help but to think that the honey is an additive. Please enlighten me. Just seems a little disingenuous.
Adrian – great question. This has become a fairly common practice where whiskey producers will work with local bee keeps to rest honey in a new fill or once used bourbon barrel. They is a company actually called Bourbon Barrel Honey (pretty good I might add) that does this for a living. Other examples would be Starlight Honey Cask and Shortbarrel Beekeeper.