Penelope Riviera Bourbon 750ML

Penelope Riviera Bourbon 750ML is a rosé cask-finished four-grain bourbon bottled at 47% ABV (94 proof) in a 750ml bottle. Part of Penelope's Cooper Series, the Riviera stands out as a genuinely unusual release — a blend of 8-year-old light whiskey and straight bourbon finished in rosé wine casks sourced from Spain, a combination rarely attempted in American whiskey.

Quick Facts: ABV: 47% (94 Proof)  |  Origin: Indiana, USA  |  Rosé Cask-Finished Bourbon  |  Distillery: Ross & Squibb (MGP), Lawrenceburg

Production & Heritage

Penelope Riviera is distilled at Ross & Squibb Distillery — the MGP facility in Lawrenceburg, Indiana — and released in May 2026 as the latest entry in the brand's Cooper Series, which spotlights experimental cask finishes. The mashbill runs 74% corn, 16% wheat, 7% rye, and 3% malted barley, giving it a softer grain backbone than traditional high-rye bourbons. What sets the Riviera apart from every other expression in the lineup is its foundation: a blend of 8-year-old light whiskey and straight bourbon, finished together in Spanish rosé casks and bottled non-chill-filtered. Light whiskey — distilled at a higher proof and typically aged in used cooperage — is rarely featured openly in American whiskey releases, making this blend structurally different from standard bourbon offerings.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Apricot leads, followed by a distinct floral lift and soft berry notes of raspberry and strawberry. The rosé influence is present but restrained, contributing a delicate, wine-like sweetness without overwhelming the grain character.

Taste: The entry is honeysuckle and peach, shifting at mid-palate to apricot, caramel, and brown sugar. Red currant emerges as the rosé cask influence becomes more prominent, joined by traces of milk chocolate and melon. The four-grain mashbill provides a creamy, wheated texture while the rye keeps things from tilting too sweet.

Finish: Medium-length with baking spices, vanilla, a whisper of white pepper, and seasoned oak. Mint and lingering floral notes carry through, leaving a clean, dry close that invites the next sip.

How to Drink Penelope Riviera

Neat is the best way to appreciate the rosé cask influence and the interplay between the light whiskey and bourbon components; a few drops of water help open up the floral and berry notes without diminishing the 94-proof structure. Beyond neat pours, the Riviera's fruit-forward profile makes it a compelling cocktail base:

• Whiskey Sour — The apricot and berry character pairs naturally with citrus, adding depth beyond a standard bourbon sour.
• Boulevardier — Red currant and baking spice notes complement Campari's bitterness while the wheated softness smooths the drink's edges.
• Paper Plane — The lighter body from the light whiskey component and stone-fruit sweetness integrate seamlessly with Aperol and amaro.

Best For

• Wine enthusiasts exploring the crossover between rosé and bourbon
• Gifting to a whiskey collector who tracks experimental cask finishes
• Summer evening sipping sessions where lighter, fruit-forward spirits shine
• Side-by-side tastings comparing wine cask-finished bourbons

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Penelope Riviera taste like? Penelope Riviera leads with honeysuckle, peach, and apricot, followed by red currant and caramel from the rosé cask finish. Baking spices, vanilla, and a touch of white pepper close out a clean, medium-length finish.

How does Penelope Riviera compare to Angel's Envy? Both are wine cask-finished bourbons, but Angel's Envy uses port wine barrels and a traditional corn-rye-malted barley mashbill, resulting in a darker, richer fruit profile. Penelope Riviera's rosé cask finish and four-grain recipe — plus its light whiskey component — produce a noticeably lighter, more floral and berry-driven character.

Is Penelope Riviera good for sipping neat? Yes — at 94 proof and non-chill-filtered, it has enough structure to hold up neat while remaining approachable thanks to the wheated mashbill and lighter body contributed by the light whiskey blend.

Where is Penelope Riviera made? Penelope Riviera is distilled at the Ross & Squibb Distillery (MGP) in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, one of the most prolific contract distilleries in American whiskey production.

What foods pair well with Penelope Riviera? Soft, creamy cheeses like brie or camembert complement its floral sweetness. Stone-fruit desserts such as peach cobbler echo its apricot notes. Charcuterie boards with prosciutto match the lighter body, while dark chocolate highlights the milk chocolate and vanilla undertones. Grilled salmon with a berry glaze mirrors the red currant and rosé influence.

What sizes does Penelope Riviera come in? Penelope Riviera is available in the standard 750ml bottle size.

Is Penelope Riviera worth the price? Penelope Riviera positions as a premium expression within the Cooper Series, priced above entry-level bourbon but justified by its 8-year-old light whiskey component, Spanish rosé cask finish, and non-chill-filtered bottling — details that place it in a genuinely niche category with few direct competitors.

Why Penelope Riviera?

The Riviera does something few bourbons attempt: it openly blends light whiskey with straight bourbon before finishing the combination in rosé casks, a technique that has almost no precedent in the American whiskey market. That structural decision — not just a novel cask finish — changes the texture and weight of the final product in ways that separate it from port or sherry-finished competitors. The four-grain mashbill adds another layer of complexity, keeping the profile balanced between the fruit-driven rosé influence and the grain-forward bourbon core. For drinkers who find standard wine cask-finished bourbons too heavy or too sweet, the Riviera offers a genuinely lighter, more floral alternative built on an unconventional foundation.