Penelope Bourbon

Two childhood friends from New Jersey set out to create a bourbon worthy of a daughter's name, and ended up reshaping how American whiskey thinks about grain bills and finishing techniques. Penelope Bourbon, founded in 2018 by Mike Paladini and Danny Polise, has built its reputation on a four-grain approach that treats wheat and rye as equals rather than competitors.

History & Heritage

Mike Paladini and Danny Polise launched Penelope Bourbon in 2018, naming it for Paladini's soon-to-be-born daughter. Though the brand operates from New Jersey, production happens at MGP's Ross & Squibb Distillery in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, with additional partnerships at Bardstown Bourbon Company. MGP Ingredients acquired the brand in 2023, though both founders remain involved in blending and innovation.

The Whiskey

Penelope's signature lies in its four-grain mash bill, incorporating corn, rye, wheat, and barley into blends of three distinct bourbon recipes. The brand collaborates with Speyside Cooperage for specialized cask finishing, producing expressions like Rio (finished in American honey and Brazilian oak casks), Rosé Cask Finish, and Tokaji Cask Finish. Core offerings include Four Grain, Barrel Strength, and Architect, alongside limited releases that explore toasted barrels and wine cask maturation.

Why It Matters

Penelope represents a new generation's approach to bourbon, one that views finishing and blending as crafts equal to distillation itself. Their four-grain philosophy and experimental cask program have earned recognition from San Francisco World Spirits Competition to the SIP Awards, proving that innovation and approachability need not be mutually exclusive.