| Whiskey | Penelope Project X – Cognac Cask |
| Distillery | Sourced from MGP |
| Region | Lawrenceburg, Indiana |
| Type | Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 74% Corn, 16% Wheat, 7% Rye, 3% Malted Barley |
| Proof / ABV | 108 Proof / 54% ABV |
| Aging | 3.5 to 5 years in new American oak barrels – finishing time is unspecified |
| Filtration | Chill Filtered |
| MSRP | $70 |
| Release Year | 2025 |
What Is Penelope Project X?
Penelope Project X is a series where Penelope experiments with bold and unusual finishing techniques to help layer additional flavors on top of their traditional four-grain base mash bill.
Also included in this initial release is a Oloroso Sherry Cask, PX Sherry Cask, and an Oloroso and Cognac Cask Double Finish.
Many of the Penelope Project X bottles are store picks which means that a liquor store, whiskey club, or private group decided to choose one specific barrel from Penelope to label as their chosen barrel.
My pick is from Fine Wine and Good Spirits Liquor Store in Pennsylvania.
There are some limited-release versions of these bottles that were distributed by Penelope and are not a store pick.
If you see a bottle at your local liquor store, it will show on the label “Selected By” which will tell you which store or group selected that particular barrel.
Regardless, these are fun new experiments from Penelope and I’m sure they’re going to have some pretty interesting combinations coming to this series in the future.
For this review, I am tasting the Penelope Project X – Cognac Cask Finish.
So let’s get into it!
Penelope Project X - Cognac Cask Tasting Notes
Appearance: Golden Honey
Nose: Caramel, toasted oak, light fruits, apricot, citrus zest, pear, honey, vanilla, wheat grain, caramelized banana, malt, light chocolate and nutty notes
Palate: Rich caramel, honey, toffee, vanilla, lightly toasted oak, citrus, apricot, pear, hints of cinnamon spice, wheat grain, malt, nutmeg, baking spice, black pepper notes
Finish: Medium finish with an oily mouthfeel – leaves you with rich caramel, apricot, and light fruits with lingering oak, black pepper, and rye spice and malt
Is Penelope Project X - Cognac Cask an Approachable Whiskey?
This bottle is a bit high on the proof coming in at 108 Proof so it packs a bit of a punch that many might not be used to.
I’d probably stick to serving this one to people who are pretty familiar with whiskey and enjoy a cask strength pour.
Is Penelope Project X - Cognac Cask Complex?
Penelope Project X – Cognac Cask is relatively complex and has quite a few layers of flavor.
It starts out with the original Penelope four-grain mash bill which contains 74% corn, 16% wheat, 7% rye, and 3% malted barley.
That in itself gives in a complex flavor profile that is full of variety.
Then on top of the base mash bill, it is finished in Cognac casks which adds an entirely new layer of flavor to the bourbon.
The cognac adds a very nice layer of apricot and light fruit flavors that tie in quite nicely with the caramel and oak.
The wheat throws me off a bit but if you’re a fan of wheated whiskey, this is one you’d probably enjoy.
What are Penelope Project X - Cognac Cask’s strongest attributes/flavors?
Penelope Project X – Cognac Casks’ strongest attribute is that it is part of a new experimental series from Penelope where they are trying unique finishes and releasing them in limited quantities.
I am a big fan of distilleries trying new combinations and giving us new whiskeys with a twist.
There are a few whiskeys that use Cognac finishes and one in particular is a favorite of mine – Joseph Magnus Triple Cask – which is finished in the exact casks Penelope has launched as their first experiments… Oloroso Sherry, PX Sherry, and Cognac Casks.
So while this isn’t the most outrageous experiment, if these go well I’m sure they’ll start experimenting with more and more unique finishes.
Two of my favorite unique finishes are Liberty Pole’s Peated Bourbon finished in Orange Curacao Liqueur Casks and Peerless Rye Whiskey finished in Absinthe Barrels.
So I am curious what kind of finishes Penelope will be experimenting with in this series.
However, I am kind of curious because Penelope Rio, Penelope Rose, Penelope Valencia, etc are all unique finishes on their whiskey so I’m kind of curious whether they’re just giving this series the Project X name as a branding tactic.
My guess is that this strategy allows them to experiment with smaller batches to test which do well and then release the winners as an official release.
Either way, I’m excited to try more unique finishes from them.
Is Penelope Project X - Cognac Cask a go-to whiskey?
Since Penelope Project X – Cognac Cask is a limited-release, this isn’t a bottle I will be drinking regularly.
This is one that I will save for when guests come over and are looking for a unique pour – especially my friends that enjoy Cognac.
Is Penelope Project X - Cognac Cask priced accurately to its quality?
Penelope Project X – Cognac Casks sells for $70 MSRP and I think that is a fair price.
It’s not often you see a bourbon finished in Cognac so it is worth it to pay a little more for the unique experience.
So overall, I think this bottle is worth the $70 but I don’t think I would pay more.
Penelope got the pricing just right on this one.
Conclusion for Penelope Project X - Cognac Cask
Overall, Penelope Project X – Cognac Cask is a fun experiment and a pour that is full of rich and unique flavors.
I’m glad I bought the bottle and gave this one a shot.
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