Penelope Estate Collection Private Select 9 Year Bourbon 750ML

Penelope Estate Collection Private Select 9 Year Bourbon 750ML is a non-chill-filtered, 9-year-aged straight bourbon bottled at 50.6% ABV (101.2 proof) in a 750ml format. This dual-state blend of hand-selected barrels from Indiana and Kentucky earned Gold at both the 2025 ASCOT Awards and the 2025 SIP Awards, affirming its place among serious age-stated bourbons.

Quick Facts: ABV: 50.6% (101.2 Proof)  |  Origin: Indiana & Kentucky, USA  |  Age: 9 Years  |  Distillery: Ross & Squibb (MGP), Lawrenceburg, IN + Undisclosed Kentucky Source

Production & Heritage

The Indiana component is distilled at the Ross & Squibb Distillery in Lawrenceburg — the storied MGP facility responsible for sourced bourbon across much of the American whiskey landscape. The Kentucky component comes from an undisclosed distillery, marking a deliberate expansion beyond Penelope's traditional reliance on MGP stock alone. The mashbill — 74% corn, 20% rye, 1% wheat, and 5% malted barley — tilts toward a higher-rye profile that adds spice and structure. All barrels were aged a full nine years, then blended uncut and without chill filtration, preserving the full weight and texture of the spirit.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Rich caramel and vanilla custard lead, followed by ripe cherry fruit and a warm undercurrent of toasted oak. A faint tangerine brightness emerges as the glass opens up.

Taste: The entry is smooth caramel syrup layered with brown sugar and butterscotch. At mid-palate, marshmallow sweetness meets sweet cherry and crème brûlée, while the rye fraction pushes black pepper and subtle barrel char into the mix. The mouthfeel is full and oily — a direct result of the non-chill-filtered bottling.

Finish: Long and warming, closing on vanilla crème brûlée, allspice, and a delicate wisp of light smoke. The spice lingers well past the last sip without turning bitter or astringent.

How to Drink Penelope Private Select

At 101.2 proof, this bourbon rewards neat sipping in a Glencairn or wide-mouthed rocks glass; a few drops of water open up the cherry and custard notes without diluting the body. On the rocks, the melt rate gradually softens the spice and amplifies the butterscotch. For cocktails, consider an Old Fashioned, where the brown sugar and barrel char create a natural backbone with minimal sweetener needed; a Boulevardier, where the rye spice and cherry fruit stand up confidently to Campari; or a Gold Rush, where the honey syrup complements the caramel and crème brûlée without masking the nine years of barrel character.

Best For

• Gifting a bourbon enthusiast who values age-stated, barrel-proof releases
• Side-by-side tastings comparing Indiana and Kentucky distillate styles
• After-dinner sipping alongside dessert or a cigar
• Building a curated shelf of non-chill-filtered American whiskeys

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Penelope Private Select taste like? It leads with caramel, brown sugar, and butterscotch, transitions into sweet cherry and crème brûlée, and finishes with allspice and light smoke. The non-chill-filtered body gives it a notably rich, oily texture at 101.2 proof.

How does Penelope Private Select compare to Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style? Both sit near the same proof point, but Old Forester 1920 tends toward darker chocolate and baking spice from Brown-Forman's heat-cycled warehousing, while the Penelope leans into cherry fruit, caramel, and custard from its high-rye MGP and Kentucky blend. The Penelope also carries an explicit nine-year age statement, whereas Old Forester 1920 is a non-age-stated expression.

Is Penelope Private Select good for sipping neat? Yes — the 101.2-proof bottling is robust yet approachable, and the non-chill-filtered treatment preserves a full, velvety mouthfeel that makes it well suited for neat drinking.

Where is Penelope Private Select made? The bourbon is a blend of barrels distilled at Ross & Squibb Distillery (MGP) in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, and an undisclosed distillery in Kentucky, then selected and blended by the Penelope team.

What foods pair well with Penelope Private Select? Smoked brisket highlights the barrel char and brown sugar; dark chocolate truffles mirror the crème brûlée sweetness; aged cheddar complements the rye spice; pecan pie echoes the caramel and butterscotch; and grilled stone fruit, especially cherries, amplifies the bourbon's natural cherry character.

What sizes does Penelope Private Select come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle at 101.2 proof.

Is Penelope Private Select worth the price? It positions as a premium expression within the Penelope range, and its nine-year age statement, non-chill-filtered bottling, and dual-state barrel selection place it in competitive territory with other allocated or limited age-stated bourbons in its price tier.

Why Penelope Private Select?

The nine-year age statement alone sets this apart from most of the Penelope portfolio, but the real distinction is the blending of Indiana and Kentucky bourbon — a calculated move away from single-source MGP releases that introduces a second layer of barrel character. Earning Gold at both the 2025 ASCOT Awards and the 2025 SIP Awards validates the quality of that blending decision. Bottled uncut and non-chill-filtered at 101.2 proof, it delivers the kind of texture and complexity that barrel-proof collectors look for, while remaining drinkable enough that it doesn't punish the palate. For anyone building a shelf of serious age-stated American whiskey, this expression makes a strong case on its own terms.