Penelope Estate Collection Liquor Barn 10 Year Bourbon 750ML

Penelope Estate Collection Liquor Barn 10 Year Bourbon 750ML is a barrel-proof, non-chill filtered single barrel bourbon bottled at 125.1 proof (62.55% ABV) in a 750ml bottle. This private selection represents a hand-picked barrel from MGP's aged inventory — stock deemed too exceptional for Penelope's standard blending program — chosen specifically by Liquor Barn for its singular depth and complexity.

Quick Facts: ABV: 62.55% (125.1 proof)  |  Origin: Lawrenceburg, Indiana, USA  |  10 Year Age Statement  |  Distillery: MGP (Ross & Squibb)

Production & Heritage

Penelope Bourbon sources aged barrels from MGP's Ross & Squibb distillery in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, one of the most prolific bourbon and rye producers in the United States. The Estate Collection line spotlights single barrels that MGP and Penelope identified as too distinctive to fold into blended releases. This particular expression uses MGP's low-rye mashbill — 75% corn, 21% rye, and 4% malted barley — and spent a full decade maturing before being bottled without chill filtration at barrel strength, preserving the full intensity and texture of the liquid as it came out of the cask.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Rich caramel and toasted vanilla dominate the opening, giving way to dark cherry, dried plum, and cinnamon bark. A secondary wave reveals graham cracker sweetness and subtle black tea tannins that hint at the decade of oak aging.

Taste: The entry is dense with butter toffee and vanilla custard, coating the palate immediately. At mid-palate, cherry pie filling and warm baking spices emerge alongside a measured rye kick that adds structure without overwhelming the corn-forward sweetness. Oak char surfaces late, grounding the richness with a savory, almost smoky anchor.

Finish: Long and warming, with lingering dried fruit, toasted oak, and a persistent caramel sweetness that slowly fades into black pepper and leather. The barrel-proof strength extends the finish considerably, revealing new layers as it evolves.

How to Drink Penelope Estate Collection 10 Year

At 125.1 proof, this bourbon rewards patient sipping — start neat to appreciate its full complexity, then add a few drops of water to open up the dried fruit and toffee notes. For cocktail use, the high proof and bold flavor profile hold up remarkably well: an Old Fashioned benefits from the concentrated caramel and spice without being diluted into obscurity; a Boulevardier pairs the bourbon's cherry and oak intensity against Campari's bitterness for a deeply layered drink; and a Gold Rush lets the honey syrup amplify the toffee character while lemon brightens the darker fruit notes.

Best For

• Barrel-proof bourbon collectors seeking allocated-quality MGP stock
• Gifting a serious whiskey enthusiast who values single barrel selections
• Side-by-side tastings comparing MGP's low-rye mashbill across different age statements
• After-dinner sipping on cold evenings when a high-proof, dessert-like pour is ideal

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Penelope Estate Collection 10 Year taste like? It delivers a rich, layered profile dominated by butter toffee, vanilla custard, cherry pie, and baking spice, underpinned by mature oak and a touch of black pepper from the rye component. The barrel-proof strength amplifies every note without harsh alcohol burn.

How does Penelope Estate Collection 10 Year compare to Henry McKenna 10 Year Single Barrel? Both are 10-year MGP-adjacent single barrels, but Penelope's Estate Collection bottles at barrel proof (125.1 proof) versus McKenna's bottled-in-bond 100 proof, resulting in a significantly more concentrated and viscous pour. McKenna uses a different mashbill and is produced at Heaven Hill, so the flavor profiles diverge notably despite similar age statements.

Is Penelope Estate Collection 10 Year good for sipping neat? Yes — its non-chill filtered, barrel-proof character makes it an ideal neat sipper for those comfortable with higher-proof bourbon. A few drops of water can help tame the heat and unlock additional aromatic complexity.

Where is Penelope Estate Collection 10 Year made? It is distilled at the MGP (Ross & Squibb) distillery in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, one of the largest and most respected contract distilleries in America. The barrels were aged for a full decade before being hand-selected and bottled by Penelope Bourbon.

What foods pair well with Penelope Estate Collection 10 Year? Smoked brisket complements the oak and char notes; dark chocolate truffles mirror its toffee sweetness; pecan pie echoes the caramel and toasted nut character; aged cheddar provides a savory counterpoint to the bourbon's richness; and crème brûlée plays off the vanilla custard notes beautifully.

What sizes does Penelope Estate Collection 10 Year come in? This Liquor Barn private selection is available in the standard 750ml bottle size.

Is Penelope Estate Collection 10 Year worth the price? It positions as a premium single barrel bourbon, and at 10 years old with barrel-proof, non-chill filtered bottling from MGP's hand-selected stock, it competes favorably with other allocated or limited-release bourbons in its price tier. The combination of age, proof, and single barrel distinction represents strong value for barrel-proof enthusiasts.

Why Penelope Estate Collection 10 Year?

The core appeal here is access to top-tier aged MGP bourbon that was pulled from the blending pipeline specifically because it stood out from the rest. A decade of maturation in Indiana's climate swings has pushed deep caramel, dried fruit, and layered oak into this liquid in ways that younger expressions simply cannot replicate. The decision to bottle at barrel strength without chill filtration means nothing has been stripped away — what the barrel produced is exactly what ends up in the glass. For drinkers who appreciate the craftsmanship of MGP's distillate and want to experience it at its most uncompromising, this private selection delivers a focused, powerful, and genuinely complex bourbon.