Penelope Architect Straight Bourbon Whiskey landed on my radar as one of those bottles that punches well above its price point. At 52% ABV — that's 104 proof for the American whiskey crowd — this is a bourbon that isn't afraid to show up with some authority. Penelope has built a reputation around blending sourced bourbons with real intention, and the Architect expression is their attempt at something structured and deliberate. The name isn't just marketing fluff; it speaks to a whiskey that's been designed with a specific flavour profile in mind, selecting and marrying barrels to hit a target rather than just dumping everything into one batch.
What I find genuinely interesting about Penelope as a brand is their transparency about being a blender rather than a distiller. There's no fake heritage story here, no "founded in 1847 by our great-great-grandfather" nonsense. They source their bourbon, they blend it carefully, and they put their name on it. I respect that. The distillery behind the liquid isn't confirmed, but frankly, in American whiskey today, some of the best bottles on shelves are coming from brands that focus on selection and blending rather than running their own stills. It's the same principle that made Scottish independent bottlers legendary.
Tasting Notes
I won't fabricate specific tasting notes I don't have in front of me, but here's what I can tell you about what to expect. At 52% ABV, you're getting this bourbon at a proof that preserves a lot of barrel character without crossing into fire-breathing territory. This is a sweet spot for straight bourbon — enough strength to carry rich, full flavours but approachable enough that you don't need to drown it in water to enjoy it. Expect the classic bourbon backbone: corn sweetness, some baking spice, and whatever oak influence those barrels have contributed. The "Architect" blending approach suggests this was built for balance and complexity rather than being a single-note bruiser.
The Verdict
At £55.25, Penelope Architect sits in a competitive space. You're up against established names with serious pedigree at that price. But here's the thing — this bourbon earns its place. The 52% ABV is confident without being aggressive, and the NAS designation doesn't bother me one bit. Age statements are overrated when the liquid in the glass is good, and Penelope's track record suggests they know what they're doing with barrel selection. This is a bourbon that feels considered, not accidental. It's the kind of bottle I'd recommend to someone who's moved past the entry-level expressions and wants something with more weight and intention behind it. A 7.5 out of 10 feels right — this is a genuinely good bourbon that delivers honest quality without pretension. It doesn't need a backstory to justify itself; the whiskey does the talking.
Best Served
Pour this one into an Old Fashioned and you'll see why I keep a bottle around. At 104 proof, it's got the backbone to stand up to a sugar cube, a few dashes of Angostura, and a proper orange peel expression without getting lost. The bourbon's natural sweetness plays beautifully with the bitters, and that higher proof means your drink doesn't turn into flavoured water as the ice opens up. If you're drinking it neat, give it five minutes in the glass and a few drops of water — let it settle and show you what it's got. Either way, this is a bourbon built for drinking, not for collecting dust on a shelf.
