Pages

▼

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Pennypacker Bourbon


Earlier this year, I posted a review of a Heaven Hill bourbon bottled in Scotland and then imported back into the US.  Here's another example of that phenomenon, but from Germany.  Borco is a German company that bottles a Heaven Hill bourbon under the label Pennypacker Bourbon.  In the past, this has only been for sale in Europe, but now they are exporting it to the US.  The folks at their importer sent me a bottle for review.

The label has lots of Americana on it, and the press materials talk a lot about Abraham Lincoln, but while there's a picture of a bearded gentleman on the bottle, it's definitely not Honest Abe.  Oh well, maybe the Europeans don't notice these details.  Let's see how it tastes.


Pennypacker Bourbon, 3 years old, 40% abv ($22)

The nose has a distinct anise note, like an LDI rye, then turns to mint.  The palate is very minty and mild but then fairly dull and watery.  By the finish, there's not much left other than a vaguely minty taste.

This has very little flavor or character.  It's watery with just a touch of mint.  Tasting it blind, I might even guess that it was a blended whiskey.  Let's just say I wouldn't recommend it.




at

13 comments:

  1. WTKJune 19, 2013 at 12:49 PM

    The ever more (in)credible Jim Murray gives it 87 points, describing it as "seriously well made bourbon". Ha!

    ReplyDelete
  2. sam kJune 19, 2013 at 9:28 PM

    I have yet to find a "seriously well-made" three year-old bourbon.

    Jim must be more discerning than some of us...

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousJune 19, 2013 at 10:46 PM

    Ah, our friend Mr. Murray's shenanigans continue apace!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousJune 20, 2013 at 7:12 AM

    Richnimrod said;
    Let me understand this...
    This is Heaven Hill Bourbon? Shipped in bulk to Germany to be bottled? Is it aged in KY or Germany..or elsewhere?
    How can this be economical to send back to the US? Especially for an apparently unimpressive dram...

    ReplyDelete
  5. skuJune 20, 2013 at 7:15 AM

    Yes, it is Heaven Hill. From what I understand, it is aged in the US and then sent to Germany for bottling. I have no idea who it can be economical for them to send it back, though maybe they are doing it at a scale that makes it worthwhile (I believe they are a fairly large brand in Europe).

    ReplyDelete
  6. Mat GarretsonJune 20, 2013 at 2:41 PM

    Seems to be an expanding trend. Stetson is HH juice bought by a German company and now available in the U.S.

    ReplyDelete
  7. skuJune 20, 2013 at 2:51 PM

    Interesting Mat, I didn't know that about Stetson.

    ReplyDelete
  8. kallaskanderJune 21, 2013 at 2:28 AM

    Hi there,

    it is true the Stetson was created for the German market and Pennypacker has been in the shelfs of supermarkets for ages here.

    But I don't think that the bulk whiskey for both brands is shipped to Germany bottled and then sent back. German bottling lines probably can fill 750 ml bottles but I do not believe that is the way it is done.

    Greetings
    kallaskander

    ReplyDelete
  9. vitJune 28, 2013 at 8:41 AM

    Sounds interesting, but I only drink Swiss bottled Bourbons.

    ReplyDelete
  10. AnonymousJanuary 15, 2014 at 9:14 AM

    It says "Bottled in Germany" on the back label.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Nate O.May 26, 2014 at 8:33 AM

    Re: "I have no idea who it can be economical for them to send it back" - it's built into the price. I just paid 9,99 euros for a bottle, which is roughly $13.60 or so. It's a bit cheaper here than Jim Beam. If you're paying $22 for a bottle, that's way too much.

    ReplyDelete
  12. UnknownMarch 12, 2016 at 6:18 AM

    Anyone try the 8 year pennypacker? Any good?

    I'm led to believe it is discontinued now, but a few bottles are still floating around.

    ReplyDelete
  13. ickeymickeyDecember 5, 2016 at 5:21 AM

    I'm a bartender at a German pub in America and we sell a lot of this. I, and all the other bartenders I work with love it. Recently we've been hearing talk of it not being available anymore. I think it has something to do with making it here in America then shipping it to Germany to be bottled. Where I'm at in America its about 28 dollars for a 750ml bottle which is about the same price as jim beam, but way easier to stomach. Its funny to me how popular it is in Germany cuz all we ever hear its all about schnapps there. But a quality product is a quality product wherever its sold I suppose

    ReplyDelete