THE BOURBON RESOURCE: July 2026
Wild Turkey Gold Foil and Penelope Classic Series reviews, 5 questions with Dave Bob Gasper, massive bourbon theft, Four Roses anthology collection and more
First, HAPPY (early) 4th of July and America 250!!!!!!!
Please note: The newsletter may look a little different this month. My Substack newsletter draft froze on me, so I’ve combined screenshots (the first half of the newsletter) with rewriting (the second half). Some of the paragraphs may not align properly. Hopefully it isn’t too clunky for you.
THE BIG BOURBON RESOURCE NEWS
A massive Sh*t show?
THEY STOLE BOURBON AGAIN
THE BOURBON RESOURCE REVIEWS
Wild Turkey Austin Nichols Archives Gold Foil Edition
Note: Wild Turkey provided a sample of the Austin Nichols Archives Gold Foil Edition for review purposes with no special considerations.
Proof: 120
MSRP: $400
Wild Turkey Austin Nichols Archives Gold Foil Edition
Short take: Funky, oaky, and leathery, its unique taste profile will appeal to Master’s Keep fans.
History: This is the inaugural bottling of the Wild Turkey Austin Nichols Archives Gold Foil Edition. From the press release: “Gold Foil Edition pays homage to the exceptional whiskeys that emerged during the so-called “Glut Era,” a period when whiskey fell out of favor, and inventories swelled. During that time, Jimmy (Russell) often blended older barrels into standard bottlings, creating bourbons with remarkable depth, intensity, and the distinctive “mature oak funk” that many enthusiasts believe is rarely found in modern releases. To recreate the richness, character, and unmistakable profile of that era, Gold Foil Edition was crafted with a longer aging process and higher proof, allowing (Associated blender) Bruce (Russell) to achieve exactly what he set out to create.”
Wild Turkey Austin Nichols Archives Gold Foil Edition
Mash bill: 75% Corn, 13% Rye, 12% Malted Barley
Let’s taste it:
🛏 Rested for 15 minutes in a Glencairn glass
👉🏻Nose: Sweet cherry, oak, vanilla, honey, brown sugar
👉🏻Taste: Cherry, caramel, maple, vanilla, leather, oak
👉🏻Finish: Back, pepper, rye spice, oak, leather, cocoa
Wild Turkey Austin Nichols Archives Gold Foil Edition
Summary
This is a bourbon that will fool you. It starts sweet on the nose and palate, then explodes with oak and leather. It’s been a long time since I’ve had the “Cheesy Gold Foil” 12-year from the mid-1980s to early 1990s, and I no longer have a bottle to compare with the newer release. But bourbon analysts say the 12-and 16-year hold many of the same characteristics. The Gold Foil’s oak and leather give way to strong pepper and rye spice on the finish. I rarely add a drop of water to bourbon, but I did in this case, and it was a big help. That one drop, in a 1.5 ounce pour, smoothed it out and dulled the oak and leather so that it better blended with the other flavors. I found it far more enjoyable that way and turned it into a bourbon I could sip.
Conclusion – Wild Turkey Austin Nichols Archives Gold Foil Edition
With the end of the Master’s Keep series, the Gold Foil Edition will slide into that spot in Wild Turkey’s ultra-premium offerings. I found some of the Master’s Keep over-oaked, but Gold Foil has tamed that taste. Yes, Gold Foil is $75 or so more per bottle than Master’s Keep, but anyone who thinks that’s a problem should check the secondary market, where this newest bourbon sells for as much as $1,200. It won’t have a problem selling, especially to those who like this style of bourbon. I can’t think of another offering that’s this unique. I’m fortunate to get a sample because I doubt I’ll find a bottle in the wild. If I do, I’ll get one.
Have you tried Wild Turkey Austin Nichols Archives Gold Foil Edition? What do you think?
PENELOPE CLASSIC SERIES
Penelope Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Penelope Rye Whiskey
Note: Penelope Bourbon provided samples of the classic series for review purposes with no special considerations.
Penelope Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Proof: 92
MSRP: $43
Penelope Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Short take: A solid and needed entry in the sub-$50 market
History: Penelope made its mark with blends and experimentation. Its Rose cask finish, for example, is a light, refreshing bourbon perfect for the summer, and its Tojaki cask is among the better bourbons on the market. The classic series marks Penelope’s entry into straight bourbon and rye.
Penelope Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Mash bill: 78% corn, 10% rye, and 12% barley malt
Let’s taste it:
🛏 Rested for 15 minutes in a Glencairn glass
👉🏻Nose: Light vanilla, sugar, orange peel
👉🏻Taste: Caramel, vanilla, sugar, honey
👉🏻Finish: Pepper, sugar, cinnamon, light molasses
Penelope Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Summary: Don’t be fooled by the nose, which is unassuming, and the light color of the pour. This bourbon has the standard flavors we’ve all come to expect but also a nice pepper/cinnamon kick that adds punch at the end and lingers. It’s not overpowering but instead a nice, easy drinker you wouldn’t be embarrassed to show at your bar. The cinnamon and light molasses on the end provide some boldness that’s not apparent on the front.
Conclusion – Penelope Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
This is a must-have for those who want a solid bourbon at a reasonable price (by today’s standards). It has enough flavor to sip, and there’s no need to add ice given its proof (I would shy away from that). Don’t compare this to other $43 bourbons; compare it to others that are in that 92 proof range, like Buffalo Trace, Elijah Craig and Larceny. Penelope’s first release holds its own against the competiton, and I suspect it’ll get better as time goes by,
Have you tried Penelope Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey? What do you think?
Penelope Rye Whiskey
Proof: 92
MSRP: $35
Short take: An excellent buy
Penelope Rye Whiskey
Mash bill: 93% rye and 7% malted barley
Let’s taste it:
🛏 Rested for 15 minutes in a Glencairn glass
👉🏻Nose: Black pepper, rye bread, orange peel, sugar
👉🏻Taste: Caramelized brown sugar, rye bread, orange peel
👉🏻Finish: Sugar, pepper, rye bread, light peppermint
Penelope Rye Whiskey
Summary: I have, over time, become more of a rye fan. I’m still not used to those big “punch you in the face” ryes and prefer those that are lighter and balanced. The Penelope Rye Whiskey has the balance I seek. There’s enough spice to remind you you’re drinking a rye, but enough subtle flavors to keep you guessing what’s in your glass. The best part, for me, is that heat this hits your chest at the end. It’s not burning hot but provides a nice, lingering warmth. In the time it took me to type this paragraph and the one below, a burst of brown sugar hit the roof of my mouth. Delicious.
Conclusion – This is a winner, especially at the price point, and it wouldn’t surprise me if it was more popular than the bourbon. There’s nothing wrong with the bourbon; it’s just that the rye has a bit more of a “wow” factor. At $35, you won’t feel bad using this for a Manhattan, but don’t. You’ll be cheating yourself.
Have you tried Penelope Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey? What do you think?
COMING IN AUGUST
Five questions with Dave Bob Gasper, the head distiller at Lexington Brewing and Distilling Company
Bourbon I forgot I had
Review and News!
That’s it for this month! The New York Knicks won the NBA championship, and for the last five summers I’ve written content for Knicks Film School. You can check it out here.
And our friends at Bourbon Obsessed have a tremendous catalog of bourbon and distillery reviews. You can see more from them here:
I do my best to catch typos, but am not always successful. See one? Let me know.
Ray Marcano writes and publishes the Bourbon Resource monthly. He’s a bourbon lover and long-time journalist who freelances for some of the country’s largest media brands. He’s the former national president of the Society of Professional Journalists, a two-time Pulitzer juror, a Fulbright fellow, and has been named best columnist in the state of Ohio two straight years (2025/26). He also covers Fine Wine and Dining in Ohio.