Penelope Celebration Pack 3Pk

Penelope Celebration Pack 3Pk is a three-bottle bourbon variety set featuring Penelope's Four Grain (40% ABV), Architect (52% ABV), and Barrel Strength (57.5% ABV) expressions. The Barrel Strength inclusion is particularly noteworthy — it earned a Double Gold medal at the 2020 San Francisco World Spirits Competition and followed with Gold medals in 2022 and 2023.

Quick Facts: ABV: 40%–57.5% (varies by bottle)  |  Origin: Indiana, USA  |  Style: Four-Grain Bourbon Variety Pack  |  Source Distillery: MGP, Lawrenceburg

Production & Heritage

All three expressions in the Penelope Celebration Pack share the same distinctive four-grain mashbill: 75% corn, 15% wheat, 7% rye, and 3% malted barley, sourced from MGP's distillery in Lawrenceburg, Indiana. What separates Penelope from typical sourced bourbons is its collaboration with French cooperage Tonnellerie Radoux, using proprietary Oakscan® technology — a near-infrared scanning system developed with INRA and CEMAGREF researchers that measures polyphenol content in individual oak staves. This precision allows the blending team to introduce only the specific French oak influence needed to round out each expression, resulting in three distinct profiles from the same base distillate aged in new American oak barrels.

Tasting Notes

Four Grain (40% ABV):

Aroma: Light caramel and vanilla open up first, followed by soft grain sweetness. A gentle, inviting nose with no alcohol burn.

Taste: Smooth entry with mellow sweetness that builds into toffee and hints of orchard fruit at mid-palate. The wheat influence keeps everything rounded and approachable.

Finish: Short to medium, with gentle oak and lingering fruit. Clean and easy.

Architect (52% ABV):

Aroma: Sweet vanilla and crème brûlée dominate, with elegant floral notes emerging underneath. More complex than the Four Grain from the first nosing.

Taste: Creamy oak and soft baking spice meet balanced sweetness on the palate. The higher proof delivers more body without harshness, and the French oak finishing adds a distinctive custard-like richness.

Finish: Smooth and lingering with French oak warmth. A gentle spice tail extends the experience.

Barrel Strength (57.5% ABV):

Aroma: Bold dried fruit, deep caramel, and rich vanilla create an intense, layered nose. Brown sugar and toasted oak add depth beneath.

Taste: Full-bodied entry of brown sugar and baking spice, expanding into toasted oak and dried fruit at mid-palate. The uncut proof amplifies every flavor without overwhelming the four-grain balance.

Finish: Long and warming, with layered spice and sweetness that lingers well past the swallow. The most complex and rewarding finish of the three.

How to Drink Penelope Bourbon

The Celebration Pack rewards exploration across all three proof points. Start with the Four Grain neat to establish the baseline profile, then move to Architect, and finish with the Barrel Strength — adding a few drops of water to the latter opens up its dried fruit and caramel layers considerably.

• Old Fashioned: The Architect's crème brûlée sweetness and higher proof stand up beautifully against bitters and a sugar cube without getting lost.
• Whiskey Sour: Four Grain's mellow, fruity character blends seamlessly with citrus, creating a balanced and sessionable cocktail.
• Manhattan: Barrel Strength's bold spice and dried fruit intensity complement sweet vermouth and hold structure at full-strength dilution.

Best For

• Gifting a bourbon enthusiast who wants to explore one brand's full range
• Side-by-side tastings to understand how proof and finishing shape flavor
• Holiday or celebration gatherings where guests have varied proof preferences
• Introducing someone to barrel-strength bourbon with a built-in stepping stone

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Penelope Bourbon taste like? All three expressions share a core profile of caramel, vanilla, and soft grain sweetness derived from the four-grain mashbill. The range progresses from mellow fruit and toffee in the Four Grain to bold dried fruit, brown sugar, and toasted oak spice in the Barrel Strength.

How does Penelope compare to Basil Hayden? Both Penelope Four Grain and Basil Hayden are bottled at 80 proof and positioned as approachable, easy-drinking bourbons, but Penelope uses a four-grain mashbill (corn, wheat, rye, and malted barley) while Basil Hayden relies on a high-rye recipe, making Penelope softer and Basil Hayden spicier. The Celebration Pack also offers two higher-proof expressions that have no direct Basil Hayden equivalent.

Is the Penelope Celebration Pack good for beginners? It is an excellent introduction to bourbon because the three proof points — 80, 104, and 115 — let a newcomer discover their preferred intensity using the same base whiskey as a constant reference.

Where is Penelope Bourbon made? Penelope sources its bourbon distillate from MGP's distillery in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, one of the most prolific and respected contract distilleries in American whiskey. Blending and finishing decisions, including the proprietary French oak stave program, are directed by the Penelope team.

What foods pair well with Penelope Bourbon? Four Grain pairs well with mild cheeses like Gouda or Havarti, where the mellow sweetness complements creamy textures. Architect's crème brûlée richness works alongside pecan pie or bread pudding. Barrel Strength stands up to smoked brisket, dark chocolate, or aged cheddar, where its bold spice and dried fruit match intense flavors.

What sizes does the Penelope Celebration Pack come in? The Celebration Pack is sold as a three-bottle set; individual bottle sizes may vary by market, so check the listed volume at the time of purchase.

Is the Penelope Celebration Pack worth the price? The pack positions in the mid-premium tier and delivers strong value by bundling three distinct proof expressions — including the Double Gold–winning Barrel Strength — into a single purchase, effectively replacing the need to buy three separate full-size bottles to explore the lineup.

Why Penelope Celebration Pack?

The strongest argument for this set is the Barrel Strength bottle alone, which has accumulated a Double Gold (2020) and consecutive Gold medals (2022, 2023) at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition — one of the industry's most competitive blind-tasting events. Beyond accolades, the Oakscan® French oak finishing technology gives Penelope a verifiable technical edge in precision blending that most sourced bourbon brands cannot claim. Packaging three expressions of ascending proof from the same four-grain mashbill creates a built-in tasting flight that demonstrates how proof, aging, and finishing decisions transform a single distillate into distinct drinking experiences. For anyone looking to understand what modern blended bourbon can achieve, this pack delivers a compelling and well-structured education.