A five-star American bourbon has landed in the UK – here’s why it might be the drink that makes you like whiskey

Two rye whiskey cocktail drinks toasted together,Addictive substance Credit: Getty AMERICAN bourbon brand Penelope has officially launched in the UK, and its signature Four Grain bottle is already on shelves from £36.95. The brand arrived here in July through London importer Lightbox Brands, after years of being available only in dribs and drabs. Penelope Four Grain Straight Bourbon (750ml), £39.50 £37.99 at Amazon The brand claims to be “one of the fastest growing premium whiskey brands in the US”, with sales up 80% in 2025. Sign up for the Money newsletter Thank you! Penelope was founded in 2018 by Mike Paladini and Danny Polise, and named after Paladini’s daughter, who was born the same year. Instead of embracing bourbon’s gruff, macho reputation, Penelope positions itself as a “flavour-led alternative to gin, rosé and spritzes”, better-suited to garden parties and barbecues than dark, dingy bars. The Four Grain blends three separate mash bills into a single bourbon, working out at 75% corn, 15% wheat, 7% rye and 3% malted barley. That combination gives you the softness of a wheated bourbon with a bit of rye spice behind it, and neither one takes over. Expect caramel, buttered corn, apricot and a cornbread finish, with very little of the oaky heat that tends to put newcomers off American whiskey. At 40% ABV, it’s the lowest strength that bourbon is allowed to be sold in the UK. It’s also non-chill filtered, which is unusual at this end of the market. The recommended retail price is £40.50 – though it’s usually possible to find it for less. Amazon stocks it in the larger 750ml American-format bottle, so it’s worth checking the size before you compare. Penelope Four Grain Straight Bourbon (750ml), £39.50 £37.99 at Amazon It has picked up Double Gold at the SIP Awards twice and a silver at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, largely on how easy it is to drink. If you already work your way through cask-strength bottles, though, it’s possible you’ll find this one thin. For everyone else, it does the job in a highball with soda and lemon, or in a whiskey sour, which is where most of us are drinking spirits in August anyway. If tequila is more your thing, there’s a bottle currently slashed at a major retailer, and we’ve rounded up some three-ingredient tequila cocktails if you’d rather mix something. Stock is thin on the ground at some retailers already, so if you want a bottle before the bank holiday on 31 August, don’t leave it too late. As always, if you’re enjoying a tipple, remember to drink responsibly.