Penelope Conundrum 12 Year Straight Rye Whiskey

This is my first pour review of Penelope Conundrum 12 Year Straight Rye Whiskey. I’m a big fan of MGP’s 95/5 rye mash bill, but with so many bottles out there using it, I wanted to see whether this one offered something different. Well, it certainly does!

Nose

The rye spice is fairly tame at first, leaving room for a buttered pastry quality with hints of cherry and even strawberry. There’s also that sweet, musty oak character I enjoy in Penelope’s 10 Year Bourbon. I don’t know about y’all, but I love the smell of sweet, aged oak.

Palate

The rye spice may be subtle on the nose, but it shows up with the first sip. Alongside it is that dark, brooding brown sugar I enjoy in MGP rye, balanced by honey sweetness and a faint strawberry note.

Interestingly, the sweetness hits first, followed by the rye spice. The longer I sip, though, the more the spice seems to fade into the background, allowing the sweeter flavors to take the lead.

Finish

The spice ramps back up on the finish, bringing a little black pepper with it. That honey sweetness still hangs on for dear life. The warmth is moderate, without overwhelming heat, and lingers for a while.

Final Thoughts

So, what sets this apart from the many other 95/5 MGP ryes? If you’re like me, you love this mash bill, but it’s everywhere. Is this one worth purchasing?

In my mind, absolutely. Based on this first pour, Penelope Conundrum is well executed, easy to drink, and more refined than many of the 95/5 MGP ryes I’ve tried. The balance of honey sweetness, aged oak, subtle fruit, and rye spice gives me plenty of reasons to come back for another pour.

I am anxious to see how this evolves on subsequent pours.