Penelope Wheated Bourbon has been turning heads in the American whiskey world, and after spending some proper time with this bottle, I can see why. This is a straight bourbon whiskey bottled at 47.5% ABV — a proof point that sits in that sweet spot where you're getting real flavour intensity without the heat overwhelming everything. No age statement here, but let's talk about what actually matters: what's in the glass.
For those unfamiliar, a wheated bourbon swaps out the rye grain you'd typically find in a bourbon mashbill and replaces it with wheat as the secondary grain behind corn. Why does that matter? Rye brings spice, pepper, and a certain assertiveness. Wheat does the opposite — it rounds everything out, softens the edges, and lets the corn sweetness and barrel character do the talking. Think Maker's Mark, Weller, Larceny. That's the neighbourhood Penelope is moving into, and it's good company to keep.
The Penelope brand takes an interesting approach — they're a sourced whiskey operation, which means they're selecting and blending barrels rather than distilling their own. Before anyone turns their nose up at that, remember that some of the best bourbons on the market are sourced. The craft is in the selection and the blending, and Penelope has built a solid reputation for getting that right.
At 47.5%, this sits above the legal minimum of 40% by a comfortable margin, and you can feel it. There's a weight and presence to this bourbon that you simply don't get from something bottled at 80 proof. It's not cask strength — it's not trying to knock you sideways — but it has enough backbone to stand up in a cocktail without disappearing, and enough composure to drink neat without needing a water dropper beside you.
Tasting Notes
I'll be honest — I want to let you discover this one for yourself rather than load you up with my own flavour map. What I will say is this: expect the hallmarks of a well-made wheated bourbon. That means approachable, grain-forward sweetness with barrel influence doing a lot of the heavy lifting. The wheat keeps things smooth and the proof keeps things interesting. It's not a complex, brood-over-it-for-an-hour kind of pour, but it's genuinely enjoyable and well-balanced for what it is.
The Verdict
At around £46, Penelope Wheated Bourbon sits in competitive territory. You're paying a small premium over the budget wheaters, but you're getting a noticeable step up in proof and, frankly, in care. The 47.5% ABV gives it versatility that lower-proof wheated bourbons simply can't match — it works neat, it works on ice, and it absolutely works in cocktails. This is a bourbon that does exactly what it sets out to do, and does it well. A 7.5 out of 10 from me — it's not reinventing the wheel, but it's a genuinely good bottle that I'd happily keep on my bar and reach for regularly.
Best Served
This is a natural Old Fashioned bourbon. The wheated softness means you don't need much sugar to balance it — just a barspoon of rich demerara syrup, two dashes of Angostura, and a wide orange peel expressed over the top. The 47.5% ABV holds up beautifully against the dilution from the ice, which is exactly what you want. If cocktails aren't your thing, pour it neat in a Glencairn and give it five minutes to open up. Either way, you're in for a good evening.
