PennyPacker Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey was the number one selling Bourbon in the European market in the 1970s, but was only introduced to the US market in the Spring of 2013. The whiskey itself is aged in white oak for at least three years, but the actual aging time is at the discretion of the distiller.
The brand itself embodies vernacular American culture – Abraham Lincoln, the penny, and old glory are well represented on the label. The bottle shape, embossing, and typesetting also harken back to the days of old.
PennyPacker has a fairly benign smell with a slight vanilla-poundcake scent, but not overpowering by any means. With 70% corn, it has a medium color and very light body. The taste is also subtle with hints of caramel and white pepper. It has a very long burn from the onset to well after the finish. A cube of ice mellows it out a lot and evokes some almond flavors.
After I tasted it neat, I also tried PennyPacker with a Northern Neck Ginger Ale and ice which mixed well. I think PennyPacker is on par with Jim Beam, but not nearly as sweet. I think it works well as a mixing cocktail as it doesn’t add unnecessary sugar to the mix.