Penelope Architect “Crème Brûlée”
Intro
When a bottle has the words “Crème Brûlée” on it, I expect something soft, sweet, and comforting—like dessert at a fancy restaurant I can’t afford unless I skip lunch for a week. But this bourbon surprised me like biting into a donut that turned out to be filled with wasabi. That’s not a bad thing—it just needed a moment (and a few drops of water) to chill out. This review is for anyone wondering if this Penelope or North Carolina Barrel Pick is more pastry or powerhouse. Also, to reiterate, I’m an amateur reviewer by someone who knows just enough to be dangerous (mostly to their wallet).
🏛️ History
Penelope Bourbon was founded in 2018 by Mike and Kerry Paladini, shortly after they learned they were expecting a baby girl, whom they named Penelope. The bourbon brand was created as a tribute to life’s simple joys and meaningful moments, and it quickly grew from a passion project into a nationally recognized name. Mike partnered with childhood friend Danny Polise, and together they began sourcing high-quality whiskey from MGP in Indiana, blending and finishing it with a creative and modern touch. Notably, on the NC Warehouse page, it listed LUXCO as the distiller. These details have always confused and taken me back. I'm not into the juice that is “bottled” under this name and “distilled” elsewhere, yet owned by someone else. However, I was pleasantly surprised by the notes.
The Architect series, including the “Crème Brûlée” edition, represents one of Penelope’s most innovative lines. Collaborating with Tonnellerie Radoux, a renowned French cooperage, they use a high-tech oak scanning process to select custom staves with precise flavor profiles. This results in a finely tuned barrel finish that leans heavily into the dessert notes suggested by the name. Crème Brûlée is a limited-release blend designed to highlight vanilla, custard, and toasted sugar notes, all built atop a high-proof backbone. It’s dessert with a blueprint—sweet, scientific, and dangerously sippable.
🥃 The Pour
Twist, pop, and pour—it’s not a wax-dipped unicorn, but the bottle still looks sharp. In the glass, it’s a rich amber gold that catches the light like it has something to prove. The legs hang on like they’re late on rent—slow, thick, and syrupy. It looked like dessert before I even brought it to my nose, and yes, I swirled it dramatically like I was on a Netflix bourbon documentary. Felt classy, despite being barefoot in gym shorts; literally.
👃 Nose
Right away, the nose hits like a sugar rush: vanilla frosting, brûléed marshmallow, warm butterscotch, and a hit of creamy custard. A soft floral note floats in—maybe orange blossom or a ghost of honeysuckle—before a big ol’ wave of ethanol lets you know this ain’t no cupcake. It’s sweet, sure, but the heat comes in unexpectedly sharp, like someone left the torch on a second too long while caramelizing the sugar crust. Somewhere under that is a touch of oak, toasted and reserved, hiding behind the dessert cart like a chaperone at prom.
😋 Palate
First sip? Immediate heat—spicy, punchy, and a little wild. Not painful, but definitely unexpected for something named after a French dessert. The alcohol shows up early, bringing cinnamon bark and fresh cracked pepper before giving way to a richer, creamier core. A few drops of water mellowed things out beautifully, revealing a velvety wash of vanilla bean ice cream, caramel flan, honeyed nuts, and golden sponge cake. Mid-palate, I started getting toasted coconut, nutmeg, and something almost like warm milk with brown sugar; YES, like Cinnamon Toast Crunch. There’s even a faint citrus zing—like orange zest dusted over crème brûlée—that kept it from becoming cloying. The mouthfeel is dense and rich, coating the tongue like warm frosting that’s just started to melt. This thing has layers—like a bourbon parfait with a peppery attitude.
🔥 Finish
The finish is long and surprisingly complex. It begins buttery and sweet, then slowly fades into soft oak, cocoa nibs, and a gentle warmth of tobacco. That toasted sugar hangs on like the ghost of dessert past, while a charred marshmallow note sneaks in at the end. There’s a faint graham cracker vibe, a hint of almond, and maybe I imagined it, a puff of smoky vanilla whipped cream. The Kentucky hug is real but polite, like a firm handshake with an old-school barber
💭 Final Thoughts
Penelope Architect “Crème Brûlée” is a dram that plays both sides. It comes in hot, but with a little patience (and a splash of water), it transforms into a dessert-forward bourbon with enough structure and spice to keep you guessing. It's not a beginner's pour, but it's also not one that takes itself too seriously—kind of like a Michelin-star chef who still loves Pop-Tarts. I’d recommend it to anyone who enjoys rich, layered pours with a sweet tooth and a sense of adventure. It’s a bottle that rewards slow sipping, curious noses, and maybe a second pour once your palate adjusts. Score? Let’s just say it’s officially on my “hide this from guests” shelf.
Cheers to a dram good time! 🥃✨
The Details:
Proof: 100 • Distillery: Luxco • Mashbill: 74% Corn • 16% Wheat • 7% Rye • 3% Barley • Aged: 4-5yrs •Price: $75
Brown Water Rating Scale:
Nose: 4 • Palate: 4 • Finish: 5 • Uniqueness: 3 • Value: 3 • Overall: 3.8
This is a 5-point scale based on my own preferences. This was also tested by my father-in-law, another whiskey lover. 