| Whiskey | Penelope Project X – Oloroso Sherry 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 | Non-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.
While an Oloroso Sherry isn’t quite a “unique” finish on whiskey (used often in Scotches), it is more rare in bourbon so this is a good start to their Penelope Project X series.
Also included in this initial release is a PX Sherry Cask, Cognac Cask, as well as an Oloroso and Cognac Cask 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 – Oloroso Sherry Cask Finish.
So let’s get into it!
Penelope Project X - Oloroso Sherry Cask Tasting Notes
Appearance: Dark Amber
Nose: Caramel, brown sugar, vanilla, cinnamon spice, dark fruit, malted milk balls, chocolate, toasted oak, wheat grain, earthy, rye
Palate: Rich caramel, black cherry, reminds me of Dr. Pepper, toasted oak, wheat cereal, chocolate, cinnamon notes, leather, rye spice, malt
Finish: Medium finish that coats your mouth – leaves you with a rich chocolate, dark fruit, charred oak, and rye spice with lingering pepper and cinnamon spice on the tail end
Is Penelope Project X - Oloroso Sherry Cask an Approachable Whiskey?
Penelope Project X definitely showcases the Oloroso Sherry finish and is rich with dark fruits and chocolate notes.
This bottle is 54% ABV/108 Proof though, so it is not a whiskey for beginners.
Is Penelope Project X - Oloroso Sherry Cask Complex?
Penelope Project X – Oloroso Sherry Cask has a few layers of complexity based around it’s traditional four-grain mash bill which consists of 74% corn, 15% wheat, 7% rye, and 3% malted barley.
On top of the flavors imparted by the mash bill, the additional Oloroso Sherry finish adds an additional layer of dark fruits onto the flavor profile.
It starts with heavy caramel and brown sugar, toasted oak, vanilla, and your traditional bourbon flavors, but it also has a nice level of wheat cereal grain flavor notes from the 15% wheat grain.
You get some rye spice and earthy notes from the 7% rye grain and the chocolate notes pair well with the 3% malted barley.
What are Penelope Project X - Oloroso Sherry Cask’s strongest attributes/flavors?
Penelope Project X’s strongest attribute is that it is a series designed to experiment and try new combinations and finishes to bourbon.
I’m a big fan of Oloroso Sherry finishes on Scotches, so why not bring that finish to bourbon.
Some of my favorite Oloroso Sherry Finished whiskeys (aside from Scotches) are Liberty Pole Peated Rye finished in Oloroso Sherry, the Jack Daniel’s Twice Barreled 2022 American Single Malt Limited Special Release, and Joseph Magnus Triple Cask Finished Bourbon.
I’m looking forward to seeing what experiments Penelope will bring to this Project X series and at the $70 price point, it’s not too much risk to give it a shot.
Is Penelope Project X - Oloroso Sherry Cask a go-to whiskey?
Penelope Project X – Oloroso Sherry Cask has some unique flavors to it but it is not a whiskey I would drink as a go-to whiskey.
For one, it’s relatively rare to find.
In addition, it is a very rich whiskey and the mash bill is just not the profile that I would drink as a go-to.
I know some people absolutely love everything about the Penelope flavor profile, but I tend to stick closer to my Jack Daniel’s, Elijah Craig, and Four Roses as my go-to’s.
Is Penelope Project X - Oloroso Sherry Cask priced accurately to its quality?
Sometimes I feel like Penelope bottles can be overpriced for what they deliver, but this bottle is only $70 and offers a very unique flavor profile that is advertised as an experiment and that’s exactly what it is to purchase and taste.
You will get unique flavors in this bottle that are quite enjoyable and the rich dark fruits, chocolate, and wheat grain notes make the bottle worth purchasing.
Conclusion for Penelope Project X - Oloroso Sherry Cask
Penelope Project X – Oloroso Sherry Cask Finish is an experimental bottle from Penelope and I rather enjoyed my tasting during this review.
It has me coming back and pouring just a little bit more to see what other flavors and tastes I can pull out of this one.
Is this a bottle I would stock up on?
Probably not.
But it is worth its price tag, especially if you like to taste unique whiskeys and won’t be disappointed if the experiment is not for you.
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