Penelope Bourbon’s New “Architects of Golf” Release: A Bourbon Built for the Back Nine

There are some bourbon releases that feel like they were made for collectors.

There are others that feel like they were made for conversation.

Penelope Bourbon’s new Architects of Golf release feels like both.

The limited-edition series expands on Penelope’s popular Architect line, but with a golf-inspired twist that feels especially fitting for the brand. Penelope’s story has always had a connection to the game. Co-founders Michael Paladini and Danny Polise have shared that the idea for Penelope Bourbon began during a round of golf, so this release feels less like a gimmick and more like a full-circle moment.

And for bourbon lovers, it gives us something even more fun: a built-in side-by-side tasting experience.

What Is Penelope Architects of Golf?

Architects of Golf is a limited-edition trio of Penelope Bourbon bottles labeled as:

Hole 1 Hole 2 Hole 3

Each bottle is part of the broader Penelope Architect family, which is known for using French oak or oak stave finishing to shape the final flavor profile of the bourbon. This golf-themed release continues that idea, but each “hole” represents a different batch and flavor direction.

Think of it almost like playing a bourbon course.

You are not just opening one bottle. You are moving through a progression.

Each release is designed to highlight how oak, finishing, and blending choices can change the personality of the same general bourbon style. That is exactly the kind of tasting experience I love because it teaches your palate to notice the details.

Why This Release Is Interesting

What makes this release especially fun is that it is not just a bottle with golf packaging slapped on the label.

The concept actually makes sense.

Golf is a game of small differences: club selection, course conditions, wind, distance, angle, touch, and feel. Bourbon blending works in a similar way. Small choices can completely change the final experience in the glass.

A little more oak influence can make a bourbon feel richer.

A different stave profile can bring out more vanilla, spice, toasted sugar, or baking notes.

A slightly different blend can change the finish from soft and rounded to bold and structured.

That is what makes this series such a great tasting conversation piece. It gives bourbon drinkers a reason to slow down and compare.

Penelope Architects of Golf finished with American Oak Staves

The Bourbon Details

The Architects of Golf bottles are expected to be:

6 years old 94 proof Non-chill filtered Finished with American oak staves Mash bill: 60% corn, 36% rye, 4% malted barleySuggested retail price: around $59.99 per bottle

That 36% rye is worth noting. This is a high-rye bourbon profile, which typically means more spice, structure, and energy in the glass compared to softer wheated bourbons or lower-rye Kentucky profiles.

The American oak stave finishing should add layers of toasted oak, vanilla, baking spice, and possibly some darker sweetness depending on the exact stave influence used in each batch.

How I Would Taste Them

If I were pouring this for a tasting, I would absolutely serve the three bottles side by side.

I would not rush through them. This is the kind of release where the comparison is the point.

Here is how I would approach it:

Hole 1: The Opening Drive

Start with Hole 1 and look for the first impression.

Is it soft and approachable? Is the oak gentle? Does the rye spice show up right away, or does it sit underneath the sweetness?

I would expect this bottle to set the tone for the series.

Tasting prompt: What shows up first: sweetness, spice, oak, or fruit?

Hole 2: The Middle of the Course

This is where I would start comparing.

Does Hole 2 feel deeper, spicier, or more structured than Hole 1? Does the oak become more noticeable? Is the finish longer?

This is where tasters can begin to understand how small changes in finishing can shift the bourbon’s personality.

Tasting prompt: What changed from Hole 1 to Hole 2? Is it richer, drier, spicier, or smoother?

Hole 3: The Finishing Hole

By Hole 3, I would be looking for the boldest expression.

Does the stave finishing become more intense? Is there more toasted vanilla, oak, clove, cinnamon, or dark sweetness? Does the proof feel bigger than 94, or does it stay balanced?

Tasting prompt: Which “hole” has the longest finish, and which one would you want to pour again?

Why This Matters for Bourbon Drinkers

The best bourbon tastings are not about deciding which bottle is “best.”

They are about learning what you actually like.

This release is a great reminder that bourbon is not just about age statements, proof, or bottle hype. The real magic is in the details: mash bill, oak, finishing, blending, warehouse conditions, and the final choices made before bottling.

A release like Architects of Golf helps drinkers taste those differences in a very approachable way.

And that is where your palate starts to build a pattern.

You may realize you gravitate toward higher rye bourbons.You may notice you like toasted oak finishes.You may discover you prefer a softer vanilla-forward pour over a spicier, more structured one.

That is the fun part.

Will Penelope Architects of Golf Be Available in Ohio?

The release is expected to be limited and available through select retailers.

For Ohio buyers, it appears that Penelope Architects of Golf Holes 1–3 has already shown up in the OHLQ system, which is a good sign that it may be coming to Ohio. As with most limited bourbon releases in Ohio, availability may vary by agency store and could appear without much notice.

Your best bet is to search OHLQ regularly for:

Penelope Architects of Golf Penelope Architects of Golf Holes 1-3 Penelope Architect

If it lands in your area, it probably will not sit long.

Final Pour

Penelope’s Architects of Golf release is clever, but more importantly, it is educational.

It connects the brand’s origin story, the popularity of golf culture, and the technical side of bourbon blending in a way that feels natural. For collectors, it is a limited series with a strong theme. For drinkers, it is a ready-made tasting flight. For bourbon educators, it is a perfect example of how oak finishing can shape flavor.

And honestly, it would make a fantastic country club tasting.

Three bottles. Three holes. One really fun way to learn how bourbon changes from glass to glass.

That is a pairing I can get behind.