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 CHAPTERS00:00 – Reintroducing Danny Polise after five years01:56 – Cooper Series & the MGP Luxco acquisition04:43 – Why Penelope's light whiskey took off09:01 – Tasting through the full lineup11:25 – Ready-to-pour cocktails & seasonal flavors16:00 – Barrel experimentation & smoked Old Fashioneds17:13 – Introducing the Kentucky Classic Series20:31 – Building the rye blend & sourcing Kentucky barrels25:19 – Danny's evolved blending process30:17 – From Architect Series to the Golf Series36:55 – Tasting notes: Classic Series bourbon & rye41:46 – Wrap-up and see you next time🔔 Subscribe for more weekly discussions, tastings, and bourbon insights from the Bourbon Lens community. 📸 Follow on Instagram: @bourbonlens 🌐 Visit: www.bourbonlens.com 🛍️ Merch: https://bourbon-lens-shop.printify.me/products 💬 Discord: https://discord.gg/pd6ys5nRSUHashtags#BourbonLens #PenelopeBourbon #DannyPolise #ClassicSeries #KentuckyBourbon #StraightRye #BourbonPodcast #WhiskeyPodcast #BourbonReview #BourbonCommunity #MGPIngredients #CooperSeries #ReadyToPourCocktails #BourbonNews #WhiskeyTasting #BourbonCulture #CraftWhiskey #KentuckyWhiskey #BourbonLife #SipListenDiscover