I'll admit it. I've been curious about Penelope Bourbon for quite a while. The brand seems to pop up everywhere these days—bourbon shelves, whiskey podcasts, social media discussions, and conversations among bourbon enthusiasts. Yet somehow, despite seeing the bottles countless times, I never quite got around to bringing one home. Until now. And after spending some quality time with Penelope Wheated Bourbon, I'm left wondering why I waited so long. Perhaps the biggest clue li

My wife is so very good to me. Twice a year, our local Hy-Vee store has a bourbon raffle. Get in line early, and nearly everyone is assured of the opportunity to purchase a rare or allocated bourbon find at close to MSRP. I had other commitments; she graciously waited in line with nearly a hundred bourbon nerds in hopes of scoring something nice. This year, just in time for Father’s Day, she shared that her golden ticket was for Old Charter Finest Oak. Part of Buffalo Trace's

Some bourbons walk into the room and politely introduce themselves. Others kick the door open, crank up the volume, and announce their presence from across the county. This Hy-Vee Bloomington-Normal Old Forester Barrel Strength selection falls somewhere in between. With a high proof, it certainly has the credentials to be a bruiser, but surprisingly, it arrives with far more finesse than force. That doesn't mean it's tame. It just means it's smart enough to wait until you're