In June 2025, Penelope launched the inaugural launch in its new annual Cigar Classes collection. Penelope Cigar Classes Chapter 1 American Whiskey continues the model’s mixing custom by combining three distinct types of whiskey right into a singular, distinctive expression. This mix options straight bourbon, rye, and single malt whiskey—all distilled by MGP in Lawrenceburg, Indiana—with every part aged for no less than six years earlier than mixing.
The general mashbill contains 72% corn, 15% rye, and 13% malted barley. Whereas the particular mashbills of the bourbon and rye elements stay undisclosed, Penelope’s web site reveals that the bourbon portion was completed with medium-tannin French oak staves previous to mixing. This ending element is especially noteworthy, as American whiskey sometimes associates cigar finishes or cigar blends with a number of ending casks utilized to a single expression. Nevertheless, Cigar Classes Chapter 1 diverges from this norm, as a substitute honoring the unique spirit of cigar blends as they originated on the earth of Cognac—the place the main focus lies not on ending methods, however on mixing a spirit that naturally enhances a high quality cigar.
To good this concord, Penelope and Luxco collaborated with famend cigar blenders Cynn Coburn of Dissident Cigars and Lee Marsh of Stolen Throne Cigars to create a mix designed particularly to pair with a medium-bodied cigar. Future chapters within the collection promise to discover a wider vary of cigar pairings.
Whereas Penelope Cigar Classes Chapter 1 is meant to reinforce the cigar expertise, I’m not a smoker and may’t personally attest to the way it pairs with tobacco. So, how does this whiskey carry out by itself, with out a cigar? With a manufacturing run of seven,500 instances, is that this an expression that can enchantment to all whiskey lovers—even those that don’t smoke cigars? Let’s discover out.
Penelope Cigar Classes Chapter 1 American Whiskey Overview
The nostril begins with aromas of Whoppers malted milk balls and buttercream frosting. Nutmeg spice and a barely astringent word of crimson apple pores and skin full the scent profile. The only malt whiskey part stands out on the palate, the place the Whoppers character stays current and combines with honey. Because the tasting continues, dry and earthy flavors of almond butter and tobacco develop alongside a dry mouthfeel. On the end, notes of Honey Nut Cheerios, nutmeg, caramel, and burnt orange peel persist.
Penelope Cigar Classes Chapter 1 American Whiskey is an pleasing dram even with out a cigar, although I’m not sure I might select it over different premium choices from Penelope inside an identical worth vary. With extra data of cigars, I believe I might respect this primary launch within the Cigar Classes collection a bit extra. Given the cigar experience of the group behind the mix, there may be little doubt that Chapter 1 succeeds in its purpose of complementing a medium-bodied cigar and can appeal to fans throughout the cigar group.
For these outdoors of cigar tradition, the whiskey presents an attention-grabbing mixture: an undisclosed bourbon mashbill blended with 100% malted barley single malt and a lightweight whiskey part made out of 99% corn and 1% malted barley. Although it represents a small portion of the mix, the one malt distinctly shapes the flavour profile. For these searching for one thing a bit completely different, this expression is definitely price exploring.
101 proof.
B+ / $80 / penelopebourbon.com [BUY IT NOW FROM FROOTBAT]
Penelope Cigar Classes Chapter 1 American Whiskey
USD80
Visited 56 occasions, 56 go to(s) in the present day
