PENELOPE SPECIAL BARREL PROJECT X
USA
WHY BUY:
This one’s going to go fast, folks — like, in-a-matter-of-hours fast. Penelope Bourbon’s Project X is a showcase of never-before-released cask finishes that marry American bourbon with the storied casks of Jerez and Cognac to create flavors that would be impossible to come by with American oak alone — all brought to you by the passionate innovators at one of the biggest names in bourbon right now. We tasted through dozens of samples to handpick 13 barrels total from Penelope's limited production run, securing exclusive access for our members. Folks, these are four of the best and most rewarding bourbons we've encountered all year. And are you ready for the kicker? Each is only $80. Run, don’t walk.
OUR TASTING NOTES:
PX Sherry Cask: Grape jelly and fig leap from the glass, followed by dark fruit and cola syrup with mulling spices. The Pedro Ximénez influence creates the kind of indulgent sweetness that Spanish sherry does best, ending on notes of dark fruit and light oak. Luscious without ever descending into cloying
Oloroso Sherry Cask: Dried fruit candy and toasted nuts with light cream on the nose, leading to roasted coffee, brown sugar, and dried stone fruit. Here we see the savory side of sherry finishing, with a velvety texture that finishes with warm cherry fruit and just enough spice to intrigue
Cognac Cask: Vanilla bean and candied citrus open out into caramel, peanut, and vanilla wafer flavors that gesture toward French sophistication without ever straying from being bourbon. The finish delivers candied fruit with cinnamon spice, a wonderful balancing of sweetness with refinement
Double Finish: Sherry & Cognac Cask: The audacious showstopper of the collection, combining as it does Spanish and French influences in ways that shouldn't work but most assuredly do. Crème brûlée and cookie dough aromatics lead to vanilla custard, dark chocolate, and raisin, and then on to the long, controlled finish, with its marvelous hints of allspice, tart cherry, and marshmallow
THE STORY:
Among spirits geeks and mixologists, Penelope has developed a massive (and growing) reputation for being adventurous craftsmen with meticulous attention to detail and a penchant for daring experimentation — their small-batch, limited-edition American Light Whiskey expressions are particularly coveted rarities. Their blends are expert, and these finishes demonstrate that they're geniuses, too, when it comes to casking. What sets Project X apart is that Master Blender Danny Polise doesn't just experiment for the sake of novelty; he's guided by a philosophy that transformation comes through understanding both the bourbon's foundation and the finishing cask's potential. The PX and Oloroso casks hail from Jerez, Spain, where sherry production has been perfected over centuries, while the Cognac casks bring French sophistication from the heart of Cognac country. The double finish represents something entirely new — a carefully-calibrated synthesis that required precise timing and an almost surgical understanding of how flavors interact and evolve.
FUN FACT:
Master Blender Danny Polise developed Project X after discovering that certain European finishing casks could transform bourbon in ways that American oak simply couldn't. And — voila! — Penelope's first international cask sourcing program was born.
OUR GUARANTEE:
As always, we only buy and source directly from the distillery, so rest assured: your bottles will arrive in your hands with pristine provenance. Secure this exceptional collection today!
*Offer NOT valid in-store. This offer is made pre-arrival, with wines estimated to be delivered to your preferred store in Fall 2025. All sale prices are the lowest available at Total Wine & More and ONLY valid through Concierge Sales. No further discounts or coupons may be applied. The price reflected on your order form is subject to change after the order is placed in the event of a change in tariffs or taxes that are imposed by the U.S. government, or in the case of currency fluctuations of 10% or greater. Offer only valid in TX. This offer will expire on Sunday, July 6, 2025.