I’d like to thank ByrnePR and Penelope Bourbon for providing this review sample with no strings attached.
The thing I like most about these barrel-finished Penelope releases, other than the whiskey of course, is that I always learn something new about a different style of wine. I’m going to tell you right now, I had no idea what Vino de Naranja was. And if you’re like me—a curious person who enjoys learning new things, especially about unfamiliar drinks we might like—you might find this interesting.
So, what is Vino de Naranja? The simplest explanation is that it’s a Spanish white wine infused with orange peels through maceration. Basically, they soak the orange peels in the wine until they get the flavor they’re looking for. According to Wikipedia, this “orange wine” is primarily produced in Huelva and Málaga in Andalucía, Spain.
Now, let’s talk about this bourbon from MGP’s Penelope brand. As always, this is a blend of different mashbills, some using rye as a flavoring grain, and others using wheat. This is how they get to what they call their Four Grain bourbon. The composite mashbill for this one works out to 74% corn, 16% wheat, 7% rye, and 3% malted barley. The component bourbons were aged between four and five years in barrels with a No. 4 char level (No. 2 on the barrel heads). According to the brand’s website, the blend was then finished for up to a year in Vino de Naranja wine casks from Seville, Spain, before being bottled at a non-chill-filtered 95 proof.
Let’s see how it tastes.
Penelope Valencia
Purchase Info: This sample was provided for review purposes at no cost. The suggested retail price is $79.99
Price per Drink (50 mL): $5.33
Details: 47.5% ABV. A blend of three bourbon mashbills. Composite mashbill: 74% corn, 16% wheat, 7% rye, and 3% malted barley. 4- to 5-year-old bourbon finished in Vino de Naranja casks for about a year.
Nose: Caramel, nutmeg, and a hint of candied orange peel.
Mouth: Syrupy mouthfeel. Notes of Cinnamon, nutmeg, caramel, and a floral orange note.
Finish: Medium in warmth and length, with strong notes of floral orange. Baking spice and oak notes support the orange.
Thoughts: This is a bit too sweet for me when neat, but toss some bitters and just a touch of your favorite sweetener in with it, zest an orange peel over it, and boy, do you have a hell of an old-fashioned. I can also see this being a good after-dinner drink or “dessert” whiskey.
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