Penelope Private Select 4 Year Old, Toasted Oak Cask, Batch No. 22-302, Whiskey Hunt Australia, 57.5%

At 57.5% ABV, this is a high-strength bourbon on paper, while the notes point to a softer sweet-oak side with vanilla wafer and caramel alongside mild spice. That balance sounds appealing, though the strength is a clear part of its character.

Reviewed by cedar compass

Nose

Oily grains, Sweet oak, Vanilla wafer, Caramel

Palate

Silky, Sweet, Mildly spicy, Relatively high-wheat profile

Finish

Warming, Lingering vanilla, caramel and oak