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

<p>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.</p><p>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.</p><p>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.</p><p>⏱️ EPISODE CHAPTERS</p><ul><li>00:00 – Reintroducing Danny Polise after five years</li><li>01:56 – Cooper Series &amp; the MGP Luxco acquisition</li><li>04:43 – Why Penelope's light whiskey took off</li><li>09:01 – Tasting through the full lineup</li><li>11:25 – Ready-to-pour cocktails &amp; seasonal flavors</li><li>16:00 – Barrel experimentation &amp; smoked Old Fashioneds</li><li>17:13 – Introducing the Kentucky Classic Series</li><li>20:31 – Building the rye blend &amp; sourcing Kentucky barrels</li><li>25:19 – Danny's evolved blending process</li><li>30:17 – From Architect Series to the Golf Series</li><li>36:55 – Tasting notes: Classic Series bourbon &amp; rye</li><li>41:46 – Wrap-up and see you next time</li></ul><p>🔔 Subscribe for more weekly discussions, tastings, and bourbon insights from the Bourbon Lens community. 📸 Follow on Instagram: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UCqqiSeI2OHr7k0nVDHNpoWQ" target="_blank">@bourbonlens</a> 🌐 Visit: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://www.bourbonlens.com" target="_blank">www.bourbonlens.com</a> 🛍️ Merch: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://bourbon-lens-shop.printify.me/products" target="_blank">https://bourbon-lens-shop.printify.me/products</a> 💬 Discord: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://discord.gg/pd6ys5nRSU" target="_blank">https://discord.gg/pd6ys5nRSU</a></p><hr /><h2>Hashtags</h2><p>#BourbonLens #PenelopeBourbon #DannyPolise #ClassicSeries #KentuckyBourbon #StraightRye #BourbonPodcast #WhiskeyPodcast #BourbonReview #BourbonCommunity #MGPIngredients #CooperSeries #ReadyToPourCocktails #BourbonNews #WhiskeyTasting #BourbonCulture #CraftWhiskey #KentuckyWhiskey #BourbonLife #SipListenDiscover</p>