Penelope 18 Year American Light Whiskey
Penelope 18 Year American Light Whiskey
Penelope's 18 Year American Light Whiskey is a rare, deeply aged release from the historic Ross & Squibb (formerly Seagram's) distillery in Indiana. Drawn from a corn-forward mash and matured eighteen years in second-fill oak, it is an allocated, limited bottling from a producer better known for its four-grain bourbon — a chance to taste what nearly two decades in the barrel does to American light whiskey.
Long aging gives it a remarkably rich, creamy character for the category. Vanilla and toasted oak lead on the nose, opening to a palate of caramel, buttered corn, and baking spice, with a trail-mix nuttiness that builds as it goes. The finish is long, sweet, and warming — full of flavor yet surprisingly smooth for its strength.
This is a shelf piece and a serious gift for the whiskey lover who has the usual suspects covered: an 18-year age statement at a barrel-proof intensity rarely seen in light whiskey. Pour it neat and give it air, or add a single drop of water to open it up. Explore the rest of the Penelope range at Gifted Pour. Ships to most US states. Adult-signature required at delivery.
Tasting Notes
Shipping
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Manufacturing
Our products are manufactured both locally and globally. We carefully select our manufacturing partners to ensure our products are high quality and a fair value.
Why Gifted Pour recommends it
For the whiskey lover who already owns the familiar bottles, this is a genuinely different pour to hand over. Drawn from a corn-forward mash at the historic Ross & Squibb distillery in Indiana, formerly Seagram's, it spent eighteen years in second-fill oak, and that long rest shows. Expect vanilla, toasted oak, and honey on the nose with a whisper of orchard fruit, then caramel, buttered corn, and baking spice building into a trail-mix nuttiness. The finish is long, warm, and sweet, with vanilla and oak lingering. It is an allocated, limited bottling from a producer better known for its four-grain bourbon, which makes it a thoughtful choice for a milestone birthday, a retirement, or a mentor you want to thank properly. With a barrel-proof intensity rarely seen in light whiskey, it rewards patience: a Glencairn, a few minutes of air, perhaps a single drop of water. It suits unhurried evenings and conversation rather than cocktails, and it looks right on a shelf long after the first pour.
Pairs well with
- Dark chocolate — Bittersweet chocolate plays against the whiskey's caramel and lingering vanilla sweetness.
- Toasted pecans — Toasted nuts echo the trail-mix nuttiness that builds across the palate.
- Retirement or milestone celebration — An eighteen-year age statement and a long, warm finish make it a fitting pour for marking years of hard work.
Questions about this bottle
How is this different from Penelope's better-known bourbon?
Penelope is best known for its four-grain bourbon, while this release is an American light whiskey drawn from a corn-forward mash and matured eighteen years in second-fill oak. The long aging gives it a rich, creamy character, with caramel, buttered corn, and baking spice on the palate.
Who makes it and where?
It comes from the historic Ross & Squibb distillery in Indiana, formerly known as Seagram's, and is released under the Penelope label.
What does it taste like?
The nose shows vanilla, toasted oak, and honey with a whisper of orchard fruit. The palate brings caramel, buttered corn, and baking spice, followed by a growing trail-mix nuttiness. The finish is long, warm, and sweet, with lingering vanilla and oak.
What is the best way to drink it?
Pour it neat into a Glencairn and let it rest a few minutes to soften the proof. A single drop of water opens up the vanilla and eases the heat. It is a high-proof, high-age pour meant for slow sipping rather than cocktails.
