Penelope Crème Brûlée French Oak Stave Finish
Indulge in a liquid dessert with Penelope Crème Brûlée, a decadent and innovative bourbon finished with custom French oak staves. This limited-edition expression from the celebrated Penelope Bourbon lineup is a masterclass in flavor architecture, artfully designed to evoke the rich, creamy notes of the classic French dessert. Bottled at a robust 110 proof, this is a bourbon experience that is both luxurious and unforgettable. Find this exquisite creation through our preferred online retail partner, Nestor Liquor.
This unique spirit is part of Penelope’s Architect series, which uses state-of-the-art technology to achieve precision in flavor. Working with the renowned French cooperage Tonnellerie Radoux, Penelope utilizes their proprietary OakScan® process to select French oak staves with the perfect tannin levels to impart notes of vanilla custard and caramelized sugar. The result is a bourbon that is silky smooth, incredibly rich, and perfectly balanced.
Key Specifications:
Product: Penelope Architect Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Crème Brûlée French Oak Stave Finish
Mash Bill: A blend of 3 four-grain bourbon mash bills (Corn, Wheat, Rye, and Malted Barley)
Proof | ABV: 110 Proof | 55% ABV
Age: A blend of bourbons aged 4 to 5.5 years
Finish: Custom-selected French Oak Staves
Filtration: Non-Chill Filtered
Brand History: A Modern Approach to Bourbon
Penelope Bourbon was founded in 2018 by Mike and Kerry Paladini and was named in honor of their daughter. In a few short years, they have built an incredible reputation for sourcing high-quality whiskies and using innovative blending and finishing techniques to create unique, award-winning flavor profiles. The Architect series is the pinnacle of their innovation, deconstructing the finishing process to “build” a specific flavor profile, much like an architect designs a building. This Crème Brûlée edition is a perfect example of their creative and meticulous approach to modern bourbon.
Tasting Notes: A Decadent, Dessert-Inspired Journey
This bourbon truly lives up to its name, offering a rich and creamy tasting experience from start to finish:
Nose: An inviting bouquet of toasted vanilla bean, burnt sugar, and buttercream frosting, with hints of sweet cream and caramelized oak.
Palate: A luxuriously velvety and rich mouthfeel. Notes of vanilla custard, cinnamon sugar, sweet cream, and French toast dominate the palate, beautifully balanced by subtle, savory oak tannins.
Finish: The finish is warm, smooth, and delightfully long, with lingering layers of deep vanilla sweetness, toasted wood, and a gentle, creamy spice.
Why You’ll Love Penelope Crème Brûlée:
A Liquid Dessert: Perfectly captures the essence of crème brûlée in a sophisticated, high-proof bourbon.
Innovative Stave Finishing: The use of specific, scientifically selected French oak staves creates a precise and unforgettable flavor profile you won’t find anywhere else.
A Collector’s Gem: As a limited release from Penelope’s most creative series, this bottle is highly sought after by enthusiasts and collectors.
Rich and Complex: While sweet and dessert-like, the 110 proof and underlying four-grain bourbon provide a robust, complex, and balanced spirit that is anything but one-note.
Perfect for Sipping: This is the ultimate after-dinner bourbon, best enjoyed neat to savor every creamy, caramelized note.
Penelope Crème Brûlée is a stunning achievement in flavor architecture and a testament to the creative possibilities within modern bourbon. Contact Nestor Liquor today to inquire about securing a bottle of this decadent and limited release.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
Q: Is this a flavored whiskey?
A: No, it is not a flavored whiskey. All the “Crème Brûlée” notes of vanilla, custard, and caramelized sugar are derived naturally from the unique finishing process using specific, custom-toasted French oak staves.
Q: How is this different from the standard Penelope Architect?
A: While both are part of the Architect series, the standard Architect uses a blend of two different French oak staves (Delicate and Intense) to create a more classic, spice-and-fruit forward profile. This Crème Brûlée edition uses a specific, different selection of staves chosen explicitly to create a dessert-like, vanilla-and-custard-rich flavor profile. It is also bottled at a higher 110 proof compared to the standard Architect’s 104 proof.
Q: What is a “stave finish”?
A: Instead of transferring the whiskey to a different barrel, a stave finish involves placing custom-toasted or charred pieces of wood (staves) directly into the mature bourbon for a final aging period. This allows for a more precise and targeted infusion of specific wood-derived flavors.
Q: What is a “four-grain” bourbon?
A: It means the mash bill (the recipe of grains) includes corn, wheat, rye, and malted barley. This combination provides a complex flavor profile, balancing corn’s sweetness, wheat’s softness, and rye’s spice.
Q: How should I drink Penelope Crème Brûlée?
A: To fully appreciate its complex dessert notes, it is best enjoyed neat in a proper tasting glass. A single large ice cube can also be used if you prefer it chilled, as it will melt slowly and not over-dilute the rich flavors.
Q: Where can I purchase Penelope Crème Brûlée?
A: This is a highly sought-after, limited release. We recommend contacting our preferred retail partner, Nestor Liquor, to inquire about their inventory and availability.