Penelope Architect 6 Year Celebration Batch Bourbon 750ML

Penelope Architect 6 Year Celebration Batch Bourbon 750ML is a 104-proof (52% ABV) Kentucky straight bourbon finished with precision-selected French oak staves in a 750ml bottle. This special Celebration Batch release carries a six-year age statement, and the standard Architect expression earned a Silver Medal at the 2023 San Francisco World Spirits Competition along with an A- rating from Drinkhacker.

Quick Facts: ABV: 52% (104 Proof)  |  Origin: Kentucky / Indiana, USA  |  6 Year Age Statement  |  Sourced from MGP (Ross & Squibb), Lawrenceburg, Indiana

Production & Heritage

Penelope Bourbon is an independent brand that sources its whiskey from MGP (now Ross & Squibb) in Lawrenceburg, Indiana. The Architect line is built on a high-rye mashbill of 75% corn, 21% rye, and 4% malted barley, aged in new American oak barrels before undergoing a secondary finishing period with French oak staves inside stainless steel tanks. What truly distinguishes the Architect is Penelope's collaboration with Tonnellerie Radoux, the French cooperage giant, using their proprietary OakScan® technology — a near-infrared spectroscopy process developed alongside INRA and CEMAGREF researchers that scans and measures the polyphenol content of each individual stave, allowing the team to select wood with a specific tannin profile for a targeted flavor outcome. This Celebration Batch carries a six-year age statement, representing extended maturation compared to earlier Architect releases.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Melted custard and vanilla bean open the nose, followed by a cross of caramel and butterscotch sweetness. Subtle coffee grounds and a wisp of toasted oak sit underneath, lending depth without heaviness.

Taste: The entry is lush with marzipan and rich caramel, tempering the 104-proof heat effectively. Mid-palate waves of cinnamon, black pepper, and leather emerge alongside unexpected floral notes. Vanilla bean and cacao nibs weave together as the oak influence builds, with a toasted-wood character lighter than traditional barrel char — more like seared French oak than deep American char.

Finish: Long and chewy, with toffee, tobacco leaf, and desiccated coconut lingering alongside a distinctive horchata-like quality of vanilla and baking spice. A mint accent and peach sweetness round out the tail end, making each sip reward patience.

How to Drink Penelope Architect

At 104 proof, this bourbon rewards a neat pour in a Glencairn glass; a few drops of water open up the marzipan and floral notes considerably. On the rocks, the French oak sweetness becomes more pronounced as dilution softens the rye spice. For cocktails, consider an Old Fashioned — the caramel and baking spice integrate beautifully with bitters and a sugar cube. A Boulevardier plays off the cacao and leather notes against Campari's bitterness for a rich, layered drink. A Mint Julep is a natural match given the bourbon's inherent mint toffee character, requiring little more than fresh mint and crushed ice.

Best For

• Gifting a bourbon enthusiast who values innovative finishing techniques
• Side-by-side tastings comparing French oak versus American oak influence
• Celebrating a milestone with a special limited-batch release
• Building a curated home bar shelf of science-driven craft bourbons

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Penelope Architect taste like? Penelope Architect delivers rich caramel, marzipan, and vanilla with mid-palate waves of cinnamon, black pepper, and cacao nibs. The French oak finishing contributes a distinctive horchata-like quality of baking spice and toasted wood on the finish.

How does Penelope Architect compare to Maker's Mark 46? Both bourbons use French oak stave finishing to add complexity beyond standard barrel aging, but Maker's Mark 46 inserts ten heavily seared French oak staves directly into the barrel, while Penelope finishes in stainless steel tanks with staves selected using OakScan® near-infrared polyphenol analysis. The Architect also runs a higher-rye mashbill (21% rye) compared to Maker's Mark 46's wheated recipe, resulting in more pronounced spice and pepper notes.

Is Penelope Architect good for sipping neat? Yes — despite its 104-proof strength, the marzipan sweetness and French oak tannins temper the heat effectively, making it approachable neat. A few drops of water can further unlock the floral and custard aromas.

Where is Penelope Architect made? The bourbon is distilled at MGP (Ross & Squibb) in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, using a mashbill of 75% corn, 21% rye, and 4% malted barley. The whiskey is then aged in new American oak barrels and finished with French oak staves selected through the OakScan® process developed by Tonnellerie Radoux of France.

What foods pair well with Penelope Architect? Grilled pork chops complement the caramel and toasted oak character. Dark chocolate truffles mirror the cacao nib notes. Pecan pie amplifies the vanilla and toffee sweetness. Aged Gouda echoes the butterscotch and nutty marzipan qualities. Smoked brisket stands up to the bourbon's 104-proof intensity and rye spice.

What sizes does Penelope Architect come in? The Penelope Architect 6 Year Celebration Batch is available in the standard 750ml bottle size.

Is Penelope Architect worth the price? Penelope Architect positions as a premium craft bourbon, competing in the $60–$80 tier alongside other specialty-finished expressions. The OakScan® French oak technology, six-year age statement, and 104-proof bottling strength provide tangible differentiation that justifies its placement above entry-level bourbons, and critics including Drinkhacker (A-) have praised it as one of Penelope's strongest releases.

Why Penelope Architect?

The defining edge of this bourbon is the OakScan® process — a near-infrared wood analysis technology that allows Penelope and Tonnellerie Radoux to measure the exact polyphenol content of each French oak stave before it touches the whiskey. No other bourbon brand currently uses this level of scientific stave selection. Combined with a six-year age statement and a robust 104-proof bottling strength, this Celebration Batch delivers a level of intentional oak management that separates it from standard stave-finished competitors. Backed by a Silver Medal at the 2023 San Francisco World Spirits Competition and an A- from Drinkhacker, Penelope Architect earns its reputation as the brand's most ambitious expression to date.