Best Dessert Bourbon Yet? Penelope Havana Review!

[@slbdrinks]

Rum AND maple-finished bourbon? Genius or gimmick? Let’s hear your thoughts! Would you try this one? 🥃👇

[@TomMorrow78]

Let it sit for 45 minutes and tell me it doesn't turn into chocolate :)

[@jaybird4834]

I have not found a rum finished bourbon that I liked so I am watching this with interest.

[@RK-ow1zg]

I think I’ll skip this one

[@karl0318]

Good, honest review! Thank you! For 93 proof, the $80 price tag is a bit high for my taste/pocketbook. However, it sounds like it is worth a try before totally passing on the bottle. Now - if I could just find a place where I could try it first! I'm with Trenton on the 100-105 proof request - even being a "dessert pour".

[@joshquattrocchi6378]

Love this channel, Trenton has always seemed… unaware of many things. But how is it possible to be almost 30 and not know where Havana is? Dude, come on! 😂

[@jaxcoop1511]

He knows more than he plays off

[@larrymarciniuk6753]

I get a kick watching Kurt when he sips a very good poor that he really likes 😊. The look on his face is priceless. Love your channel!

[@paulhendershot111]

I love making an Old Fashioned with maple syrup, so I think I will look for a bottle of this. Sounds right up my alley.

[@th0rdan]

Thanks for the review boys! I'm def on the look out for this one

[@JordanG_3031]

SLB Classics 0:16 Trenton always has some controversial opinions 0:35 it’s always the wind or the humidity 0:43 look at Trenton’s transition and geography skills 1:24 thanks John! 1:44 Kurt is improving his inventory skills 2:16 Kurt struggles with speaking 2:30 blockheads is so good in Valparaiso, IN 3:20 Kurt likes the rum finished ryes 3:46 how many sweets can we say? 4:53 finishing shouldn’t overtake the whiskey 5:00 Trenton isn’t scared to look/act a fool 6:16 flavor explosion! 7:43 here comes another allocated product thanks to SLB 9:11 too sweet for Trenton 😮 (cookies and candy only) 9:25 Trenton the proof 🐶 10:04 not too sweet for Kurt 11:05 it meets the SLB ratio approval 11:20 Trenton needs to learn secret keeping skillz from mom 11:53 Trenton speaks straight to the distilleries for proof 12:34 Trenton goes out on a second limb 13:10 nasty Trenton is back! 13:18 Trenton has ideas! Just hire him 13:55 no presips for Kurt 😮 14:14 nice sign off and nod

[@iowafishguy9791]

I think we need a best of finished series; best rum finished, best sherry finished, best maple finished, etc… and then a head to head of the best of the best.

[@elijahkramer3720]

My girlfriend and I tried this last weekend. Very good flavors! She loved it! Cheers!

[@chriscook8076]

I’m sad, the Russell’s bottle is gone! I just noticed, I eyeball that bottle every time I get a chance to watch. Thanks guys for the great review as always. I really enjoy watching.

[@joshhalleron694]

Yeah you hit the nail on the head, would love to see it 110-120 proof! Thanks!

[@BeachSandBourbon]

Just got my bottle last Wednesday. We did our review last night.

[@ckbook]

you all always forgetting about the Old Elk SLB pick that was rum cask finish. It was a banger.

[@nighthawk05]

Iron Fish in Michigan makes a good maple finished bourbon, especially the cask strength. They also make a 4 cask finish that I like too.

[@ChristopherNeeme]

I just had a pour of the cask strength maple over the weekend and I agree, it's also a good value. Their line up is pretty diverse but I haven't yet tried anything else, will at some point though

[@pedrochapa6795]

It's their Standard 4 grain bourbon. Aged 12 months in Rum barrel, 1 month maple barrels.

[@bendino9016]

ive bought the wheated and the marshmellow toast barrel strenght, and both are solid. i do like the wheated more. it tastes like a young weller special reserve. not as much mouth feel and not as much of that dustiness in weller.

[@benhineline7867]

Always steller content boyz! 🥃 Always drink responsibility! SLB 4 life! 🤘🤘 😉😁😂

[@jabach7413]

Super hard to get ahold of right now. Love the review!

[@jondilly1974]

Leave it to Kurt to think a cigar blend in 2025 is thinking outside the box… 😂

[@mattschmitt9924]

As soon as he said it I had a similar thought.

[@mattklaren3545]

Cedar Ridge Sir Maple is crazy good. Dessert pour for sure.

[@bmc2567]

Likely a try before you buy if I can find it. I liked Kurt’s suggestion over a big ice rock. 🥃

[@Bigw10921]

I've been enjoying the Marshmallow Toast...Hard to get but worth it

[@Robert.Sheard]

That's the next book project for me: Things Trenton Should Know by Now (Chapter 73: Where the Heck Is Havana?)

[@melissarivers8479]

sounds amazing!

[@f0t0b0y]

You were asking, I wonder which bourbon they used. If you look at the mash bill, it’s identical to the latest wheated release.

[@fujiapple9675]

The only maple finish I've tasted is Knob Creek Smoked Maple, and it is lovely!

[@Eric-e7o4f]

You guys should try the bardstown foursquare . It's definitely pricey, but its an awesome bourbon finished in Four square rum barrels!!

[@valdezclarkjr.3360]

1:18 Trenton freezes 😂

[@RaghuDevarukhkar368]

I'm surprised SLB liked the Havana, but also not surprised.

[@ericfuhrman9651]

I read online that it is their four grain bourbon aged for four years and then aged for another year and each barrel so somewhere around six years

[@davidpeirce7914]

Awesome category dessert bourbon, I’m always looking for sweet , can you do a whole dessert bourbon taste off ?

[@nickp5511]

Nice review! Sounds nice! I’m really enjoying Old Louisville 8yr CS maple finished that’s 120 proof! Give it a try!

[@RonCimoch]

High West has a really good rum finished bourbon. Best one I've had.

[@moguy1973]

If you have it in your area you should try the Penelope peach Old Fashioned in a bottle. It's a pretty good Old Fashioned, and only about $30 a bottle.

[@garyrebout548]

Can't wait to find this in the western suburbs of Chicago

[@b1gsteve251]

Driftless Glen just released a rum finished bourbon that’s a distillery only. If y’all have a fan out near Baraboo have em send you guys one. Cheers 🥃

[@GarfieldTatte]

"I get this funky grassy thing, it might be the rum" lol.

[@truckrboat]

Mash bill 74% Corn 7% Rye 16% Wheat 3% Malted Barley Cuban Rum does tend to have a lighter profile, not aged as long as “funky” Jamaican rum

[@adwhite804]

While your comment may have been assumption Trenton. I'd have to imagine, the ISLAND of Cuba, and it capital city Havana . Would probably catch some decent wind from time to tome considering its location and how it lays just south of FLA... Havana is known for cigars as well as sugar, or so I hear

[@jeffreuter8843]

I have the RD1 Maple, Starlight Maple and Decadence. Still think Rye holds up better to finishers. Would love to try a Maple Rye finish.

[@ericsnyder2424]

Old Line had a maple finish a few years ago.

[@apeekintime]

11:33 He was hinting at the upcoming cigar blend. That was spoiled today anyway

[@Boo_Yeah]

It's definitely better than Rio, but I still don't get the hype for Penelope. Wouldn't go out of my way to find one or trade anything for it.

[@wishfor420]

Well done Kyle! lol. Had the pleasure of a taste of this and its a very dessert drink. The maple is definitely there.

[@curtismansell5254]

I have heard 4 year bourbon, with mash bill 74% corn, 7% Rye, 16% wheat and 3% malted barley. Finished one year in rum barrel then one month maple syrup barrel.

[@tn_onyoutube8436]

Guys, as ever a great video. Question - have you got, tried or reviewed any Canadian Ryes or (if they make one) Bourbons? I recall you did some Canadian Club, but didn’t like it. Anything else? Asking for a friend who is boycotting US products for the next 4 years.

[@davidcolgan3268]

There is a Havana in south central Illinois on the Illinois River. 😁

[@jeremy1399]

Penelope has to be towards the top as a very overrated brand. Don’t get the interest, overpriced msrp, everything they make is gimmicky and average in my opinion

[@ajbucher9440]

I would agree with you on everything they make except the estate collection

[@mattschmitt9924]

I tried a couple offerings and agreed with you. I then tried more of their stuff and found a few I like. I understand what they're trying to do and believe they offer some of the oldest, most experimental blends and finishes at a decent price. They have so many variants that there's something for everyone, but a jack of all trades is a master of none. Good price points usually.

[@batboy242]

You can get a maple flavored bourbon just about anywhere in New England but, as a diabetic, I drink I shot of a good bourbon w/o additives! I do this each night 1 hour before bed and my blood glucose is excellent! I even got off of metformin ! Just leave the bourbons alone if they add anything EXTRA!

[@curtismansell5254]

This was true for the Marshmallow Toast, it didnt really live up to the hype. But I just got a bottle of this, and it definitely lives up to the hype. It is great!

[@brandonedwards9001]

I have not tried every Penelope offering, but I love Penelope's Tokaji wine cask finished Rye and the Estate series is solid. For a dessert pour I prefer Rio to Havana and ended up trading my Havana bottle to a friend. I've also got a really lovely Architect store pick. Overall I'm happy with what I've got from Penelope and feel their hype is deserved. Cheers!

[@adwhite804]

Trenton, I am down with you, sir on the dark rum finished rye whiskey bourbon love you discussed. 👍 for sure there. If you guys get a chance, or if I get a chance. I'll send you a honey rye finished in dark rum barrels from Virginia... she's dark and a bit sweet with some rum and rye spice on the back end. Then again, I'm not sure I know what a tasty note is. Anyway,. It's called silverback distilleries, honey rye. But it's finished in dark rum, barrels, or I was told.😮

[@ryannorman6965]

Interesting review - I did not care for Havana when I tried a taste this weekend. Much too sweet (and I love sweet things). But glad other folks like it - otherwise it would be a real shame as I enjoy Penelope's other stuff and want them to keep experimenting as I am sure I will enjoy something eventually (didn't like Rio at all).

[@CGsYTChannel]

Get Trenton a map! I'll send you a postcard from Havana, I'll be there in April!

[@bb4726-h5e]

Did Trenton really say that he doesn't know where Havana is???

[@larryc.3567]

Good evening Guys. Really enjoy your show. Can you give me 4 of your favorite ryes, wheated and bourbons to try. Under 100 bucks and no allocated please. Really value your opinions. Thanks, Larry C.

[@Bald_Sauerkraut]

Trenton not knowing where Havana is lmao I look forward to this bourbon

[@timtaylor1616]

I'll have to pass. I'd rather my whiskey taste like whiskey. If I wanted syrup, I'd eat a pancake. Not trying to be a downer, I just don't see this as a legitimate product. It makes me think that the whiskey was bad and they needed something to cover it up.

[@TheWoolyninja4]

From personal experience, if it's actually maple syrup barrels, then it won't cover up bad whiskey. Bad or young whiskey will overpower the flavor from maple syrup barrels. Now, if it's being infused, that's a different story. The sentiment is fair, though.

[@9687claude22]

Would it make a good Old Fashioned?

[@ravenmoon1165]

Gosh darn you guys! You are absolutely killing me.!! I don't have the room to buy all these bottles and this is what I like. I like very drinkable sippable delicious on the sweeter side bourbon and here you are giving me another stupid bottle that I'm going to want to get ! I really really enjoy the r&d one and I found out I was on the tail end of the whole amburana kick and that they don't think they're going to release anymore this. So now I'm looking at having to buy one more bottle just to have it on the shelf in the future when you can't get it! I've got a...I'm in a quandary here. Like do I keep watching you guys and then go spending my money? Oh my God I don't know what to do!

[@honker1307]

Have 2 of these, love the finishes on it.....better than Rio!!!!

[@RishBhav22]

Better than Tom's Foolery maple finish?

[@gerardstaniszewski8309]

Nope, not for me. How much can a bourbon take before it's not a bourbon? Still working my way through the Hard Truth Farmer's, Mellencamp, cinnamon bomb.

[@gregarundale6106]

I've been looking for this, but not finding a bottle. I think it's already found it's way to secondary and prices are too high ($100 or more) which is unfortunate. From you and others, I think it would be good, but I don't like sweetened bourbon. I'd like something that is Rum finished but not sure about the Maple, that may take to sweetness too high. I hope I can find it at a reasonable price so I can at least try it.

[@davecashel4007]

Great review as usual gentleman. Sounds delicious Unfortunately for myself and many others all American Whiskey’s have been pulled off shelves and will no longer be sold in my province. This is a terrible decision made by my provincial government considering 99% of Canadian whiskey is pure crap. I refuse to drink it. Thankfully good Scotch is still on the menu. Cheers.

[@TheViBechannel442]

Didnt like Havana or the Rio.

[@clovismohamed5823]

Nice Video

[@flattailbob]

This bottle is going for $99 (sold out) to $169 in my area (Oklahoma)

[@rhythm618]

When are you going to give Woodford reserve some love?

[@trigama3]

Over homemade vanilla ice-cream!

[@lazarusriederer3439]

I figured SLB would like this, but it wasnt for me.

[@mariojohnson4695]

I hope Trenton was kidding when he said he didn’t know where Havana is 🤷🏾‍♂️

[@Redacted-Information]

Log Cabin has ZERO Maple in it! it is "Original Syrup," NOT Maple Syrup!

[@codyburgess7034]

What if it was 30% JDSBBP and 70% Havana? Could be a great blend

[@ChristopherNeeme]

"An old fashioned in a glass," so when it comes down to it what's really the difference between this bottle that might run you $100 and just adding a dash of maple syrup to something a fraction of the cost? I like really sweet bourbon but this seems like a good example of something really overvalued compared to what Woodford Reserve Double Oaked is at $40-45 near me.

[@flavordynamics]

It's disgusting. Literally poured it down the kitchen sink drain. I can only imagine how bad it was to begin with that they had to do this to it. Ive never had a good Penelope, but i had no idea dea how to doctor it up to mahe ut drinkable. Never again, P, never again. And I'm starting to not trust you guys either.

[@Retiredrookiecigars]

No background music? 😮

[@umami0247]

Not for me really don’t like dessert whiskey. Just to sweet give me bold and spicy high proof whiskey all day. I am hoping I can get the Light whiskey they are coming out with soon in fact according to my states drop list it’s coming this month. I’ve heard rumors it’s going to be 130ish proof. So I’ll be looking for it hard! 🥃🥃🥃

[@vincenzoragusa6923]

I was able to grab a bottle of Havana and stagg this week. I haven’t tried it yet but looking forward to it

[@michaellarkins9293]

Man, I just passed on this bottle for $100. I didn't pull the trigger partly because I've had the Widow Jane Decadence, and I wasn't impressed.

[@manitobuckles]

Have to run after work and pick up a few bottles of American Rye before they're taken off the Canadian shelves. Cant wait to watch tonight.... SLB, you guys are awesome! Cheers from Winnipeg! 🥃🥃🥃🥃

[@mattschmitt9924]

Any Canadian stuff we need to be looking for before the price jumps? You guys tariffed us right back, right? I pay more attention to whiskey than government.

[@manitobuckles]

@mattschmitt9924 lol the government did tax right back. But 25% on $155 billion worth of goods. Not on everything coming in like we got.

[@altmandillon1]

🎉🎉🎉

[@darrenmcqueen9660]

Was not a fan at all. Way too sweet. Picked up a couple bottles during stagg week in Ohio.

[@TrueVanguard]

That was my take too. I didn’t dislike it, but holy heck it was all sweet and no bass or body. Tasted like a cocktail syrup lol

[@darrenmcqueen9660]

On a side note, I was able to pick up a Taylor barrel proof batch 13 and it is absolutely delicious. Would highly recommend, if you get a chance to pick one up

[@GabarielAbiodun]

This bottle was overdone and overhyped. Too sugary for me.

[@f0t0b0y]

I made a video of the poor man’s Havana! 🤓

[@TraceyRusso538]

Didnt find any rum flavor, probably would pass on this next time.

[@lipservicecrew]

225 for that bottle btw

[@Brandon15169]

It was one of their worst releases in a while.

[@brandonedwards9001]

Havana is good but I still have my Rio from last year and i enjoy that more when in the mood for dessert bourbon. Ending up trading my Havana with a buddy.

[@batboy242]

I worry that artificial flavors and aromas are added to a lot of Bourbons! Maple SYRUP, Is all sugar! Uggh

[@mattschmitt9924]

I don't think they're artificial flavors. Maple syrup is a natural product as is rum. Alcohol is just old sugar that got fermented.

[@MiguelPeters210]

Cracked mine last night, and didnt like it.

[@paulkukiel3725]

Penelope is not using Cuban rum casks, as Cuban rum is illegal to import into the USA. Calling it “Havana” is completely misleading and just trying to exploit the fact that many folks wanting to try Cuban rum (or cigars) will hear “Havana” and assume it has something to do with being Cuban (if they know where Havana is).

[@j-boy9256]

I prefer the Cuban seeds grown in the Nicaraguan climate over the Dominican or Cuban region. I always thought there's no way I can tell the difference between where the tobacco was grown. I'm not that much of an aficionado. But every time I try a cigar I don't look where it's from until after I've smoked it and 9/10 times the ones I gravitate to are from Nicaraguan and the ones that I don't tend to be Dominican. I've only had 3-5 Cubans and still prefer Nicaraguan cigars. It's interesting how the trade embargo can tantalize the thought of forbidden goods. I would like to see things get figured out so Cuba could become a trade partner again. The island is only 90 miles away. I have a couple good Cuban friends and their culture is rich in spirit.

[@paulkukiel3725]

@ well, I’m primarily a Cuban cigar smoker, although I’m somewhat geographically promiscuous and smoke cigars from everywhere. There are great cigars from everywhere, but for my palate the best Cuban cigar is far better than the best from anywhere else. But, being Canadian, I grew up and cut my teeth with Cuban cigars. So, they are kind of like the comfort of a home-cooked meal.

[@TammieTurner785]

Did not like the Havana at all.

[@GOTAisMe]

Trenton you aren't going to be drinking any Cuban rums unless you travel abroad. Cuban products have been embargoed in the US since the early 60's. They're not getting Cuban rum barrels either. It's all just marketing. It's whatever rum barrels they could get the cheapest. I don't think MGP owns any rum brands.

[@RJR2222]

Say what you want about the juice but no one names their products better.

[@Salihuyakubuadamu]

It was way to sweet to me, I didnt like it.

[@BrianaStones]

Not a fan.

[@TheWoolyninja4]

Just me or does using the name "Havana" seems like a waste if you have a cigar blend in the works. I definitely dont think Havana when you say maple syrup.

[@t3dewys]

I don’t like the sun either

[@SayanaVadekar1]

I found it to be a bit too sweet and not well put together.

[@SnigdhaUpasani]

Penelope keeps letting me down, I didnt care for it.

[@IAmCivuhL]

To me rio was way more in your face sweet compared to Havana

[@levybrasseux2222]

Hopefully the cigar blends are better than this.