Penelope Toasted Bourbon Review | Standard Release vs. Single Barrel Store Pick | The Liquor Connoisseur
- connoisseurofliquo
- May 4
- 2 min read
Updated: 8 hours ago
Penelope Toasted Bourbon offers something rare in accessible bourbon: a genuine head-to-head comparison between the standard release and a single barrel store pick from the same expression. Crystal and Roger taste both and explain what barrel selection actually does to a well-made four-grain bourbon.
Bottle Specs
Spirit: Penelope Toasted Bourbon — Standard Release vs. Single Barrel Store Pick
Distillery: MGP Indiana production for Penelope Bourbon
Category: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey — Toasted finish
Mashbill: Four-grain (corn, rye, wheat, malted barley)
Toasted stave finish: Additional toasted oak stave insertion post-aging
ABV: ~48.5% (standard) / varies by barrel (store pick)
Price: ~$50 standard / ~$65 store pick
The Toasted Finish Technique
Penelope's Toasted expression adds toasted (not charred) oak staves to the barrel after the initial straight bourbon aging period. Toasted oak contributes different flavor compounds than charred oak — more vanilla, more caramel, more baking spice sweetness — without the bitter char layer that charred barrels provide. The result is a bourbon that leans sweeter and more dessert-forward than the standard Penelope releases.
Standard vs. Store Pick — What the Comparison Shows
Crystal and Roger taste the standard release and the single barrel store pick side by side, which is one of the most educational exercises available in bourbon. The standard release reflects the blended character of the expression — consistent, approachable, and calibrated for the broadest palate. The store pick shows what individual barrel variance looks like: higher proof, different char level, more individualized flavor development that won't appeal to every drinker but will be exceptional for the right one.
Which One to Buy
Crystal and Roger's framework: if you're buying Penelope Toasted for the first time, start with the standard. Once you understand the house style, pursue store picks that have been selected by people with documented selection criteria. The store pick context (who selected it, what they were looking for) matters as much as the bottle itself.
🥃 Crystal & Roger's LC Recommendations
For four-grain bourbon fans: Penelope's grain diversity is the defining characteristic. Toasted amplifies the wheat sweetness and makes it the most approachable expression in the lineup.
For dessert-forward pours: Penelope Toasted in a rocks glass after dinner is a legitimate dessert substitute. The toasted oak sweetness and vanilla are that pronounced.
For store pick hunting: This episode gives you the framework for evaluating any store pick. Apply Crystal and Roger's comparison methodology to your own barrel hunts.
LC Verdict
A well-executed comparison that makes a broader educational point about what barrel selection means. Both bottles are excellent; the comparison makes both more interesting.
Drink To Remember, Not To Forget. 🥃
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