This is bourbon reimagined: dessert-inspired, structured, and indulgent.
Meet Penelope Architect “Crème Brûlée” Straight Bourbon Whiskey. It’s dessert in a bottle! Limited‑edition and decadent, this bourbon is built like a flavor structure, finished with French oak staves chosen using Radoux’s OakScan® precision technology.
Working with the renowned French cooperage Tonnellerie Radoux, Penelope utilizes their proprietary OakScan® process to select French oak staves with the perfect tannin levels to impart notes of vanilla custard and caramelized sugar.
The result is a bourbon that is silky smooth, incredibly rich, and perfectly balanced.
Tasting Notes:
Aroma: An inviting bouquet of toasted vanilla bean, burnt sugar, and buttercream frosting, with hints of sweet cream and caramelised oak.
Palate: A luxuriously velvety and rich mouthfeel. Notes of vanilla custard, cinnamon sugar, sweet cream, and French toast dominate the palate, beautifully balanced by subtle, savory oak tannins.
Finish: The finish is warm, smooth, and delightfully long, with lingering layers of deep vanilla sweetness, toasted wood, and a gentle, creamy spice.
Reviews:
"This is way better than the original Architect...Penelope Architect Crème Brûlée is a must-buy for fans of the series, offering vanilla, caramel, cinnamon, and buttercream notes." - Call Me Old Fashioned
"Penelope Architect Crème Brûlée is a must-buy for fans of the series, offering vanilla, caramel, cinnamon, and buttercream notes." - Bourbon Riders
"It's a vanilla bomb but it's also got a creamy texture which I really like it is." - Everyday Whiskey
" It's creme brulee, it's classy, it's sweet and it's just a little bit extra on the top." - Tortured Bourbon
"As someone who isn’t a huge doubleoaked fan, I really enjoyed this, probably a top 10 bourbon for me. It isn’t super complex, but if you want sweet cream and sugar oakiness without the fresh-cut 2x4 flavor of a woodford double oaked, this is it." - /r/bourbon (Responsible-War-9389)
"This is a very interesting bourbon. While the appellation “Creme Brulee” is correct in that it has those dessert flavors of vanilla and caramelized sugar, this is name doesn’t really match the bold flavors that this whiskey has … Like the Estate Collection, the Architect Collection from Penelope is now definitely on my radar." - Brad Drell, The Whiskey Jar
"If you’re a fan of dessert-inspired bourbons or curious about how French oak staves transform a four-grain MGP base, the Penelope Architect Crème Brûlée is worth hunting down. But like most Penelope limited editions, bottles are snapped up quickly, so grab one if you see it." - Tortured Bourbon
"It's not a beginner's pour, but it's also not one that takes itself too seriously—kind of like a Michelin-star chef who still loves Pop-Tarts. I’d recommend it to anyone who enjoys rich, layered pours with a sweet tooth and a sense of adventure. It’s a bottle that rewards slow sipping, curious noses, and maybe a second pour once your palate adjusts. Score? Let’s just say it’s officially on my “hide this from guests” shelf." - Shane Benham, Brown Water Review
"This is a nice pour with some nice French oak influence. The profile leans toward the marshmallow and cream notes than the spice notes but not to the point of being too sweet. The oak character isn’t as heavy as other Architects I’ve tried, but it’s also missing some of the more intense flavors from those as well. For having its own fancy “Creme Brûlée” label, a bump in proof, and the complex stave type, I was hoping for something that stood out a little more from the standard Architect builds. Nonetheless if you like Architect or other French oak finishes, this will treat you right." - /r/bourbon (vexmythocrust)
"I have to say, this is magnificent. Definitely lives up to its Creme Brûlée name but not sickeningly sweet. Very viscous so it tastes and feels like sweet vanilla cream with a touch of caramel. I highly recommend it." - Scott Crouse, Harford County Bourbon Chasers
"Penelope Architect Crème Brûlée bourbon has heavy vanilla and cream notes, making it taste like a dessert." - Distilled Brewed & Reviewed
