Penelope Architect Bourbon Whiskey Finished in French Oak Staves
Penelope Architect Bourbon Whiskey Finished in French Oak Staves is a 104-proof (52% ABV) straight bourbon in a 750mL bottle — a four-grain bourbon (75% corn, 15% wheat, 7% rye, 3% malted barley), aged 4 to 5.5 years in new American oak, then finished with two styles of French oak staves selected stave-by-stave with Tonnellerie Radoux's infrared OakScan® process. Distilled at MGP in Lawrenceburg, Indiana and bottled non-chill filtered, it's precision blending with the blueprints to prove it. It is in stock and available to order online now at Del Mesa Liquor.
- Proof / ABV: 104 proof / 52% ABV
- Size: 750mL
- Aging: 4–5.5 years in new American oak (#4 staves, #2 heads); finished with French oak staves
- Origin: distilled at MGP, Lawrenceburg, Indiana
- Production: four-grain mash bill (75% corn / 15% wheat / 7% rye / 3% malted barley), blend of 3 mash bills; Delicate + Intense French oak staves via OakScan® tannin selection; non-chill filtered
Engineered by Oak, Finished by Science
Penelope calls Architect "the new blueprint for precision blending" — and the construction metaphor holds. Working with France's Tonnellerie Radoux, each French oak stave passes under near-infrared light so its exact tannin content is measured before it ever touches the whiskey: low-tannin "Delicate" staves and medium-tannin "Intense" staves are combined to build the flavor deliberately. The result is creamy vanilla and crème brûlée over a wheated bourbon's soft body, with the French oak adding floral and herbal structure. Explore more bourbon whiskey or browse the full Penelope collection at Del Mesa Liquor.
Tasting Notes
Nose: Sweet candied cream and floral with crème brûlée, butterscotch, maple, vanilla bean, and cacao nibs.
Palate: Sweet vanilla and viscous cream with savory oak notes; creamy sweetness transitions into herbal, floral, and cream with cinnamon bark.
Finish: Rich vanilla with a long, lingering warmth and gentle heat.
How to Enjoy
Neat in a Glencairn to appreciate the stave work, or with a splash of water to open the floral notes. At 104 proof it's a sturdy Old Fashioned base — the vanilla and oak carry through bitters and citrus beautifully.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Penelope Architect finished in?
Two styles of French oak staves — low-tannin "Delicate" and medium-tannin "Intense" — selected with Tonnellerie Radoux's OakScan® infrared process, after 4–5.5 years in new American oak.
What proof is Penelope Architect?
104 proof (52% ABV), bottled non-chill filtered.
What is OakScan?
A near-infrared spectroscopy system developed by French cooperage Tonnellerie Radoux that measures each oak stave's exact polyphenol and tannin content for precise flavor targeting.
Where is Penelope Bourbon made?
Distilled at MGP (now Ross & Squibb) in Lawrenceburg, Indiana; the Penelope brand is based in New Jersey.
Precision-built bourbon at 104 proof — order Penelope Architect online from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA, and taste the architecture.