Penelope Straight Bourbon Whiskey Architect Creme Brulee

Regular price $69.98

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Penelope Architect Crème Brûlée Straight Bourbon Whiskey takes the French-oak concept behind Penelope’s Architect series and turns the dial decidedly toward dessert. This special expression is aged 5 years, finished with French oak staves and bottled at a substantial 110 proof (55% ABV)—a step up in intensity from the standard 104-proof Architect. The French oak comes from Tonnellerie Radoux, whose OakScan technology allows Penelope to select staves according to tannin and aromatic characteristics.

And yes—the Crème Brûlée name is pretty accurate. The nose is loaded with vanilla custard, caramelized sugar and toasted marshmallow, along with sweet cream, cinnamon and polished French oak. There’s considerable sweetness aromatically, but the higher proof and oak influence keep it from smelling like flavored whiskey.

The palate is rich, creamy and assertive, showing vanilla bean, burnt sugar, caramel, toasted marshmallow and brown baking spices. Underneath that confectionary character is a distinctly spicy streak of cinnamon, pepper and toasted oak that gives the whiskey structure. At 110 proof, it carries some legitimate heat, but that extra horsepower also gives the creamy vanilla and caramelized flavors considerably more intensity.

The French oak becomes increasingly apparent through the middle and finish, adding toasted vanilla, roasted spice, dry oak and a slightly tannic counterpoint to all that sweetness. The finish brings vanilla, caramelized sugar, toasted marshmallow and lingering oak spice, with hints of darker chocolate and espresso reported in independent tastings.

What makes this interesting is that it isn't simply an ultra-sweet bourbon with a clever dessert name. The French oak and 110-proof bottling give the Crème Brûlée profile some backbone. Think of the crackly burnt-sugar crust on an actual crème brûlée: sweet vanilla custard underneath, but caramelization, toast and a slightly bitter edge on top. That's essentially what Penelope is trying to capture here.

Vinny take: Dessert in a whiskey glass—but with some horsepower. Vanilla custard, brûléed sugar, toasted marshmallow and caramel come roaring out of the glass, while French oak, cinnamon and baking spice keep things serious. At 110 proof, this ain’t some syrupy novelty bourbon—it’s Crème Brûlée with a blowtorch.

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Architecture is defined as the art or practice of designing and constructing buildings. Using those same principles, we wanted to build new and distinct flavor profiles that same way an Architect creates new innovative structures. Working in collaboration with Tonnellerie Radoux of France, the market leader in oak barrel manufacturing and innovation, we use French oak staves and their state-of-the-art OakScan® process to build a truly precise flavor profile within every bottle. After all, the best architecture leaves no room for error.

Shipping Policy

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Unless your delivery address is on the West Coast, we strongly discourage you from selecting “Ground Service” as your shipping method. During the winter and summer months, weather conditions (temperature) and longer delivery times can often result in the spoilage of your order. It doesn’t make sense to invest in fine wines and then take the chance of ruining them due environmental factors during transit (faster and safer delivery generally isn’t much more expensive). We don’t make an additional profit on accelerated delivery, but we frequently recommend faster shipping options to our customers outside the West Coast.
You must be 21 years of age to order or receive alcoholic beverages. Any shipments containing alcoholic beverages are sent with an “Adult Signature Required” sticker, and the common carrier that delivers our merchandise is required to ask and check for identification upon delivery. This means that an adult will have to be present at the time of delivery. Please consider shipping to an office address.
During periods of extreme weather, we attempt to ship wines at the beginning of each week in order to get shipments to you before the weekend. This is because we have no control over the temperature conditions at our freight carriers’ warehouses. The result may be that your shipment doesn’t go out the day that you place an order.
We ship by Fedex or Fedex Ground. Our prices include packaging materials. Insurance may be available for an additional charge.
Vintage Wine Merchants, Inc. will arrange for shipment on behalf of the buyer, to an address specified by the buyer, provided that Vintage Wine Merchants, Inc. in its sole judgment believes that such shipment will not subject Vintage Wine Merchants, Inc. to the risk of any sort of legal action or other harm. If a buyer lives in a state where the direct shipment of wine by Vintage Wine Merchants, Inc. violates the law, we suggest that the buyer provide an alternative address in another state or have their wine shipped to a third-party storage facility in a direct shipping-friendly state.
Various states impose limitations on the quantity of alcoholic beverages that may be purchased and brought into their jurisdiction by a purchaser from another state without requiring the purchaser, a seller or shipper to possess certain licenses or permits. Vintage Wine Merchants, Inc. does not, as a condition of sale, assume any obligation nor bear any responsibility whatsoever for applying or obtaining any permits or licenses. Therefore, we recommend that you investigate the possibility of such limitations, and determine the manner in which alcoholic beverages shall be brought into your state from California, so as to comply with all of your state’s requirements.
Wine shipping rules in the United States are controlled by the state you live in. We do not ship wine to the following states at this time: