Penelope Bourbon Architects of Golf Complete 3-Bottle Collection Hole 1, 2 & 3 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey 3 x 750ml

In 2018, two friends named Michael Paladini and Danny Polise played 18 holes of golf and dreamed up a bourbon company. The course they played gave them the space to think freely — away from desks and deadlines, moving at the unhurried pace of a round, letting ideas develop like a long walk with good company. They named the brand after Paladini's newborn daughter Penelope, and their founding ambition was direct: to create a spirit that embodied the daily joy of celebrating life's pleasures, big and small. That round of golf, and the conversation it enabled, built one of the fastest-growing premium American whiskey brands in the country.

Architects of Golf is the brand's most personally referential release — a three-bottle limited-edition collection that honors the game where Penelope began, the specific course that gave two friends the space and the pace to plan something genuinely ambitious. Each of the three expressions — named Hole 1, Hole 2, and Hole 3 — is the same six-year-old Kentucky straight bourbon at 94 proof, distilled from the same four-grain mashbill, aged at Ross & Squibb Distillery in Lawrenceburg, Indiana. What changes across the three is the American oak stave finishing — each subsequent expression receives more intensive stave treatment, at greater intensity and over a longer period, building the oak influence progressively from the gentle introduction of Hole 1 to the bold, concentrated conclusion of Hole 3.

"Golf and bourbon are similar in that they both bring people together," Michael Paladini said at the launch. "The introduction of American Oak Staves into our blends reflects how small adjustments can have a big impact on the overall product." Danny Polise, Penelope's founder and master blender, was equally direct: "Each hole represents a distinct batch, designed to explore the nuances of different stave profiles and how they evolve the whiskey. It made developing the collection as fun as playing the game."

The course metaphor holds across the drinking experience. Hole 1 is the approachable opening — par 4, 418 yards, caramel, butterscotch, and baking spices. Hole 2 builds the stakes — par 4, 372 yards, richer and more structured with French toast, dark chocolate, and layered vanilla. Hole 3 is the finishing hole — par 5, 528 yards, the most robust expression of the trio, chocolate mousse, dried red fruit, and concentrated toasted oak. Together, they tell a complete round.

Origins & Craftsmanship

Penelope Bourbon was founded in 2018 by Michael Paladini and Danny Polise — two childhood friends and neighbors who conceived the brand over a round of golf and built it into one of the fastest-growing award-winning premium whiskey brands in American spirits. The brand was acquired by Luxco in 2023, which operates as the branded spirits division of MGP Ingredients Inc. (Nasdaq: MGPI). Production takes place at Ross & Squibb Distillery in Lawrenceburg, Indiana — the same facility that produces the Remus Bourbon portfolio.

All three Architects of Golf expressions share the same four-grain mashbill — 60% corn, 36% rye, and 4% malted barley — distilled and aged for six years at Ross & Squibb before American oak stave finishing at progressively increasing intensity and duration:

Hole 1 receives the initial American oak stave cycle — the gentlest and the most specifically introductory stave treatment, building the lightest additional layer of caramel, butterscotch, and spice on top of the six-year base character.

Hole 2 builds on Hole 1's stave foundation with greater intensity and longer contact time, adding the darker, richer French toast, chocolate, and vanilla character that distinguishes the mid-course expression.

Hole 3 receives the most robust stave treatment of the three — the longest period and the greatest intensity, producing the collection's boldest and most specifically concentrated expression of chocolate mousse, dried red fruit, and toasted oak.

Critics Reviews

No published numerical critic scores are available for the Architects of Golf collection at this time — released May 2026.

Penelope Bourbon / Danny Polise, Master Blender:
"Each hole represents a distinct batch. They are designed to explore the nuances of different stave profiles and how they evolve the whiskey. It made developing the collection as fun as playing the game."

Penelope Bourbon / Michael Paladini, Founder:
"Golf and bourbon are similar in that they both bring people together. Penelope started as an idea on a golf course, so we felt it was only natural to expand our Architect line into this area. Architects of Golf is a nod to the subtleties of the game and where some of our best ideas took shape. The introduction of American Oak Staves into our blends reflects how small adjustments can have a big impact on the overall product."

Whiskeyfellow (Hole 3 confirmed extended review):
"Intense leather, caramel, pomegranate, and nutmeg on the nose with rich chocolate fudge. On the palate: coffee, cocoa nibs, and ancient leather on the front — vanilla, toffee, and nutmeg through the middle — dried cherries, heavily toasted oak, and clove on the back. Medium-weight, oily texture."

Bourbon Lens (collection characterization):
"Hole 1: A balanced introduction featuring caramel, butterscotch, and baking spices with a smooth, sweet oak finish. Hole 2: A richer, more structured profile with notes of French toast, dark chocolate, and layered vanilla. Hole 3: The powerhouse of the trio, showcasing robust stave influence with chocolate mousse, dried red fruit, and concentrated toasted oak."

The Three Expressions

Hole 1 — Par 4 · 418 Yards

The opening hole. The gentlest stave treatment of the three — an approachable, balanced introduction that allows the six-year bourbon's natural character to lead while the American oak staves add a specifically measured layer of additional complexity. Caramel and butterscotch dominate the nose and palate, with baking spices and nutmeg adding warm secondary depth. Dark chocolate, roasted nuts, and sweet oak emerge through the mid-palate. Subtle leather and spice carry the finish. A smooth, sweet oak close. The round begins here.

Hole 2 — Par 4 · 372 Yards

The middle game. Stave intensity and contact time increase over Hole 1, producing a richer and more specifically structured expression. French toast — the most specifically memorable and the most consistently noted single tasting note for this expression — arrives on the palate as the most distinctive contribution of the additional stave work. Dark chocolate and layered vanilla build through the mid-palate with genuine depth. Baking spice carries through from the nose. A more structured and more complex experience than Hole 1, with the bourbon's core character now more specifically shaped by the stave finishing.

Hole 3 — Par 5 · 528 Yards

The finishing hole. The most robust stave influence of the three — the longest period, the greatest intensity, and the most specifically concentrated result. Aromas of caramel and dried red fruit lead into a fuller palate of chocolate mousse and vanilla. A powerhouse finish of toasted oak, cherry, and dark chocolate for the most layered and the most concentrated profile in the collection. Coffee, cocoa nibs, and ancient leather on the front palate; dried cherries and heavily toasted oak through the back. The most demanding and the most rewarding expression of the round.

Quick Overview

Food Pairings

Hole 1 — Pecan pie, salted caramel desserts, mild cheeses, charcuterie boards

Hole 2 — French toast with maple syrup, dark chocolate torte, aged gouda

Hole 3 — Dark chocolate with dried cherry, espresso desserts, aged hard cheeses, peppercorn-crusted beef

Cocktail Suggestions

Pear on the Green (Penelope's own Hole 1 signature)
Fresh pear, Hole 1 bourbon, lemon, honey. A light, fruit-forward cocktail that complements the expression's approachable caramel character.

The Southern Fairway (Penelope's own Hole 3 signature)
A richer, more spirit-forward cocktail built for the boldest expression in the series — whiskey-forward, spiced, and specifically designed for the 19th hole.

Old Fashioned across all three — a natural format for side-by-side comparison of the three stave intensities, building from Hole 1's gentle sweetness to Hole 3's toasted oak concentration.