398: Penelope Bourbon 5 Years Later: Danny Polise on Growth, Blending & the Classic Series Launch

Danny Polise, Founder and Master Blender of Penelope Bourbon, joins Jake Lewellen and Scott Dilley for a long-overdue Bourbon Lens catch-up — five years after his last appearance on the show. In this episode, Danny walks through how Penelope Bourbon has grown from a three-product lineup into a full portfolio spanning the Cooper Series finishes, light whiskey single barrel picks, ready-to-pour cocktails, and the brand-new Kentucky-made Classic Series.

The crew talks through Penelope's expansion since the MGP Luxco acquisition, why the light whiskey releases took off with drinkers, and how ready-to-pour flavors like Apple Cinnamon, Peach, Black Walnut, and Blackberry fit different seasons and serving styles. Danny then unveils the Classic Series — a straight Kentucky bourbon and a straight rye (built from Indiana 95.5 and 51.49 rye stock) aimed at everyday drinkability at accessible price points. Jake and Scott give their first taste impressions of both 92-proof expressions, breaking down notes of citrus, orange candy, vanilla, and light herbal spice in the rye.

The conversation wraps with a deep dive into Danny's blending process, how he moves through inventory faster today, and how Penelope balances consistency with experimentation across its barrel and tank combinations — plus a look at how the Architect Series became the golf-themed Golf Series concept.

⏱️ EPISODE CHAPTERS

• 00:00 – Reintroducing Danny Polise after five years
• 01:56 – Cooper Series & the MGP Luxco acquisition
• 04:43 – Why Penelope's light whiskey took off
• 09:01 – Tasting through the full lineup
• 11:25 – Ready-to-pour cocktails & seasonal flavors
• 16:00 – Barrel experimentation & smoked Old Fashioneds
• 17:13 – Introducing the Kentucky Classic Series
• 20:31 – Building the rye blend & sourcing Kentucky barrels
• 25:19 – Danny's evolved blending process
• 30:17 – From Architect Series to the Golf Series
• 36:55 – Tasting notes: Classic Series bourbon & rye
• 41:46 – Wrap-up and see you next time

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