Penelope Cooper Series Rio & Havana Bundle Straight Bourbon Whiskey 750ml

The Penelope Cooper Series Rio & Havana Bundle 750ml offers a captivating double-feature for whiskey enthusiasts eager to explore the outer frontiers of secondary cask finishing. This curated two-bottle set brings together two of the most celebrated and sought-after expressions from Penelope’s experimental line, showcasing how diverse wood species and regional spirits can fundamentally redefine a premium bourbon. By pairing these radically different flavor profiles into a single collection, the bundle provides an immediate side-by-side study in modern blending innovation, serving as an ideal showcase for collectors looking to elevate a premium home bar or hosting a specialized tasting flight.

The foundation of both expressions is Penelope’s signature four-grain mash bill, expertly constructed from 74% corn, 16% wheat, 7% rye, and 3% malted barley. Distilled at the historic Ross & Squibb Distillery in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, the underlying straight bourbon spent four to six years resting in standard charred new American white oak barrels to build a sweet, structurally sound core. From there, the paths diverge into two distinct flavor journeys: the Rio undergoes a highly unique sequential finishing process utilizing rich American honey barrels and exotic Brazilian Amburana hardwood casks, while the Havana is filled into authentic Cuban rum barrels to extract deep, tropical molasses notes. To maintain their unique structural clarity, each batch is non-chill filtered and bottled at its own masterfully selected strength—98 proof for Rio and 100 proof for Havana.

Tasting through this bundle reveals a stunning spectrum of confectionary and tropical flavors. The Rio opens with an intensely aromatic bouquet of sweet cinnamon butter, vanilla bean, and floral honey, leading to a palate overflowing with baked baklava, gingerbread, and pumpkin spice latte notes. In contrast, the Havana shifts the flavor matrix toward a decadent Caribbean profile, welcoming the senses with toasted coconut, brown sugar, and warm caramel, before blanketing the tongue with layers of dark cacao, rich molasses, and ripe banana flambé. The mid-palates of both whiskeys hold their proof heat beautifully against the heavy wood influence, balanced by a subtle herbal freshness. The dual journey concludes with two distinct, prolonged finishes—one leaving a trail of sweet, savory exotic wood spices, and the other a lingering trail of semi-dry candied fruits and leather.

This bundle sits at the absolute pinnacle of the modern finish movement, illustrating a bold willingness to experiment with alternative wood properties at natural marrying strength. The choice to bottle these liquids at 98 and 100 proof ensures they possess enough punch to hold up when enjoyed neat or over a single large rock without losing their intricate top notes to dilution. For serious bourbon collectors who meticulously track innovative finishing milestones, this private allocation bundle offers an uncompromised look at how grain architecture and creative barrel sourcing can harmonize, delivering two of the most texturally complete and flavor-forward bottles in Penelope's entire portfolio.

• Size: 2-Bottle Bundle (2 x 750ml Full-Size Bottles)
• Proof: Rio: 98 Proof (49% ABV) | Havana: 100 Proof (50% ABV)
• Age: NAS — aged 4 to 6 years in primary oak before undergoing individual secondary cask finishings
• Origin: Distilled in Lawrenceburg, Indiana; Finished, Blended, and Hand-Bottled in Roselle, New Jersey, USA
• Distillery: Ross & Squibb Distillery (MGP — Lawrenceburg, Indiana)
• Style/Class: Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Specialty Casks — Limited Edition Multi-Bottle Allocation
• Composition: 100% Single-Distillery Four-Grain Bourbon Finished Base
• Bundle Contents: 1 x Penelope Rio (Honey & Amburana Barrel Finish) and 1 x Penelope Havana (Cuban Rum Barrel Finish)
• Cask/Aging: Initial maturation in charred new American white oak; secondary maturations in Brazilian Amburana/Honey and Cuban Rum barrels respectively
• Series/Edition: Cooper Series Finish Range — Small Batch Annual Release Bundle (Non-Chill Filtered)
• Tasting Notes: Rio: Cinnamon rolls, floral honey, baklava, gingerbread, and sweet exotic wood; Havana: Toasted coconut, rich molasses, warm caramel, ripe banana, and dark chocolate. Both offer long, highly complex finishes balancing deep wood tannins with sweet dessert notes.