The Victors

Let me start out by saying I have never been blown away or even really impressed by anything produced by Penelope other than the bottle designs which are gorgeous. I grabbed the allocated Havana and Rio and though they are interesting "Dessert" Bourbons, I didn't hate nor love them. I bought an Estate Penelope that had solid ratings and thought it was okay. So I thought I'd never go for another Penelope again, but I ran into the new 18 year American light, high corn mashbill, HAZMAT bottle. It was my first ever Hazmat, so I caved and got it. Penelope is now out of my doghouse. I love the high corn smell and flavor and though it drinks hot, it does so in a great way, an increased Kentucky hug without the kick in the face over ethanol I thought it would be. The smell is good, almost like corn moonshine, not fancy, but finally excels at something and announced itself as a genuinely good bourbon. I nabbed it around $80 and think it's worth it, I have seen it at Meijer in Traverse City so it shouldn't be that hard to find. I recommend it for even a higher fee of maybe $100.