American

Penelope Cigar Sessions Chapter 1 Review

Can a bourbon designed for cigar pairings impress a non-smoker? This fruit-forward whiskey with orange, peach, and chocolate notes might surprise you.

OVERALL RATING

8
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Tasting Notes

About:

Cigar Sessions brings together two crafts we love, whiskey and cigars!

Chapter 01 was created as a collaboration between master cigar blenders, uniting expertise from both worlds to establish the perfect pairing for when you are enjoying medium bodied cigars.

Meticulously blended for harmony, it’s bourbon made to elevate every sip and every dram – whether in a cigar lounge or in your own home.
Appearance:
Orange
Nose:
Very fruit driven which wasn’t how I thought this was going to smell. Freshly peeled oranges and loads of peaches! There is a big cigar box aroma to this, although that could just be a correlation of the name of the product.

Candied orange peel, dried orange peel, wild flowers, fresh honey and dark chocolate.
Palate:
Soft, elegant and super welcoming. A really heavy texture, it feels like it doesn’t want to move anywhere. Vanilla spices, orange zest, demerara syrup, Angostura bitters, baked lemon, honeycomb, pineapple, hot toffee sauce and sticky dates.
Finish:
Lengthy, regal and with quite a lot going on. This thing is super mouthcoating, even as a non-smoker, I can see how this would work well with medium bodied cigars. It has citric brightness and then deep, rich notes of brown sugars, honey and dark chocolate. The baked lemon notes and the general warmth from oak and the ABV aren’t offensive at all, they’re extremely well integrated with a finish that doesn’t want to stop.
Comments:
Really, really good stuff. I’d buy this even though I’m not a smoker. It also works out so much cheaper than the equivalent Scottish single malts that are aimed at cigar pairings, too.

Editor’s Note: This whiskey was either bought as a sample by The Whiskey Wash or provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. Per our editorial policies, this in no way influenced the outcome of this review.

Phil Dwyer

Phil Dwyer is a freelance whisky writer and consultant. With a decade of experience in whisky retail and nearly as long running Whisky Wednesday on YouTube, Phil is dedicated to sharing his knowledge and enthusiasm with fellow whisky lovers. His goal is to make whisky accessible and enjoyable, dispelling the jargon and complexity that can sometimes surround the spirit. In addition to his online presence, Phil managed The Whisky Shop Manchester, where he curated an impressive selection of some of the finest drams available.

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