đŠ The Acquisition Story
Here in Indiana, alcohol flows through the three-tier system: producers â distributors â stores. And if youâre lucky enough to have a friend on the distributor side, that can be like having Willy Wonkaâs golden ticket.
But with great power comes great responsibility. Pestering too often risks cutting off the magical swag pipeline, so I use my requests sparingly.
One day, while lamenting how impossible it was to track down Penelope Cigar Sessions Chapter 1, I texted my friend. He had just stocked a shop, but by the time I got there, it was already gone. Deflated, I shot him a quick message to share my disappointment.
Thenâshock. He sent me a picture: two bottles left sitting on the shelf. Penelope Cigar Sessions and Penelope Project X. The photo was followed by a single question mark.
I didnât hesitate.
âBoth,â I replied instantly.
The next day, I met him and walked away with not one, but two unicorns. My collection had leveled up.
đșïž Whiskey Legends & Tall Tales â The FDA âNicotineâ Recall
Every great bottle seems to come with a storyâand sometimes those stories are more entertaining than they are true.
When I first cracked open my Penelope Cigar Sessions #1, I was told a wild tale: that the bottle had actually been pulled by the FDA for containing nicotine. The story went that the barrels were smoked using tobacco leaves, and somehow, nicotine had leached its way into the whiskey.
For a split second, I almost bought it. I pictured some poor lab tech in a government facility swirling a Glencairn, squinting, and declaring: âYupâthis bourbonâs basically a Marlboro neat.â
Turns out, the story was pure whiskey folklore.
No FDA action. No nicotine-laced bourbon. Just another case of how rumors swirl faster than a well-built cocktail.
The truth is, Cigar Sessions got its unique flavor not from tobacco, but from the clever use of charred barrels designed to evoke the smoky, rich notes youâd find in a good cigar lounge. No nicotine buzzâjust a smooth, smoky sip that pairs perfectly with your favorite stick.
So while I canât say Penelope ever ran afoul of the FDA, I can say this: a bourbon this rare deserves a tall tale or two. And like all the best whiskey legends, itâs almost more fun to believe the mythâeven if it isnât true.
đ„ Tasting Notes â Penelope Cigar Sessions #1
đ Nose â The First Mile
Like rolling down a country lane with the windows cracked, the first breath carries a mix of charred oak smoke and vanilla bean. Thereâs a sweet hitchhiker in the backseatâfig preserves and caramelized sugarâwhile faint trails of dried tobacco leaves drift by, hinting at the âcigarâ heritage of the name.
đ Palate â Cruising Speed
On the tongue, itâs a bold but balanced ride. The toffee and dark chocolate lead the way, with ripe stone fruit (plum, black cherry) pulling alongside. Mid-palate, the oak rumbles like an old V8, steady and strong, carrying wisps of smoked spice and just enough peppery heat to remind you this isnât a Sunday drive.
đ Finish â The Long Highway
The road stretches out with a long, lingering finish. Notes of espresso, leather, and charred orange peel hang on like the scent of campfire smoke in your clothes after a night under the stars. Smooth but rugged, itâs a sip that lingers well past the last swallowâlike a stretch of highway you donât want to end.