Penelope Magic Toast Barrel Strength Toasted Straight Bourbon Whiskey 750ml

Magic Toast is the barrel-strength expression of Penelope's Toasted Series. Penelope's approach is to fully mature its bourbon in charred new American oak barrels, then give it a second finish in a new, freshly toasted barrel. The brand has said that "when we began to explore toasted finishes, we weren't expecting each barrel to be so different," so it embraced the variety of chars and toast levels. Magic Toast uses the most pronounced treatment: a Char 5 Heavy Toast, which adds a layer of caramelized, toasted oak beyond what the bourbon picks up in standard new-charred-barrel aging.

One bottle per customer, please.

It's built on a mash bill of 75% corn, 21% rye, and 4% malted barley, aged 5 to 6 years, and bottled uncut at barrel strength, 110 proof (55% ABV). That's higher than Penelope's standard 100-proof Toasted release, and it delivers, as one description puts it, "deeper, more concentrated caramelized flavor." It was handpicked as a small-batch blend for select markets, a way for customers who missed out on private barrel selections to get a Penelope at full strength. This is a highly limited 2026 release.

The tasting notes are consistent across descriptions: the nose is "dark chocolate, toasted oak, and burnt brown sugar"; the palate is "cocoa, smoked vanilla, graham cracker, and hints of pecan"; and the finish is "long dry cocoa, toasted marshmallow, and lingering spice with hints of espresso." That's a dessert-like profile with real oak intensity. For context, Bourbon Obsessed reviewed Penelope's standard 100-proof Toasted release and found it "light" and "pleasant" but without the depth of Penelope's Barrel Proof, with notes of brown sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla. Magic Toast is the answer to that critique: more proof and more toast behind the same style. If you enjoy higher-proof bourbons like Knob Creek Single Barrel or Wild Turkey Rare Breed, it offers a similar bold intensity with a distinct toasted-oak sweetness.

Origins & Craftsmanship

Penelope Magic Toast Barrel Strength Toasted Straight Bourbon Whiskey is produced by Penelope Bourbon. It is a Straight Bourbon made from 75% corn, 21% rye, and 4% malted barley, matured 5 to 6 years in charred new American oak, then finished in a second, freshly toasted barrel with a Char 5 Heavy Toast treatment. It is bottled uncut at barrel strength: 55% ABV / 110 proof, 750ml. This is a highly limited 2026 Private Batch release.

Critics Reviews

No independent critic reviews are published yet for this new release.

Penelope (official tasting notes):
"Nose: Dark chocolate, toasted oak, burnt brown sugar. Palate: Cocoa, smoked vanilla, graham cracker, pecan. Finish: Long dry cocoa, toasted marshmallow, lingering spice, espresso."

Bourbon Obsessed (standard Penelope Toasted, 100 proof; house-style context):
"Nose: Hot cherry peppers, brown sugar, cinnamon. Taste: Light oak, vanilla, sugar. Finish: Light finish with lingering brown sugar and pepper."

Tasting Profile

Nose
Dark chocolate, toasted oak, and burnt brown sugar lead, with caramel, vanilla, and warm baking spice.

Palate
Rich and full-bodied, with cocoa, smoked vanilla, and graham cracker carrying the entry, developing pecan, toasted marshmallow, cinnamon, and dark fruit.

Finish
Long and dry, with cocoa, toasted marshmallow, lingering spice, and a hint of espresso.

Quick Overview

Food Pairings

• Dark chocolate desserts
• Graham cracker or s'mores-style desserts
• Barbecue and smoked meats
• Pecan pie

Serving Note

Enjoy neat to taste the full toasted-oak character, with a few drops of water to open vanilla, cocoa, and baking spice, or over a large ice cube to soften the 110-proof intensity. Its toasted character also makes an elevated Old Fashioned.