Penelope Architects of Golf Hole 3 Review: Worth $50?

Penelope Architects of Golf Hole 3 is worth the $50 we paid. This 6-year-old bourbon delivers dark chocolate, toasted sweetness, and a rich mouthfeel that feels bigger than its 94 proof suggests. The golf-themed bottle caught our attention, but the whiskey earned our approval.

At a glance

• Age: 6 years
• Proof: 94
• Mash bill: 60% corn, 36% rye, 4% malted barley
• Stave finish: American oak
• Price paid: $50
• Ratings: One of us gave it a solid red; the other gave it a red on our scale.

Golf labels and American oak staves

The idea for Penelope came about during golf, and Architects of Golf nods to that beginning. Each front label features a different hole. The back looks like a scorecard, showing vanilla, spice, toast, and fruit profiles across Holes 1, 2, and 3.

We chose Hole 3 because its scorecard showed the highest levels across those profiles. It is presented as the boldest, richest option, with Holes 1 and 2 showing less intensity. That is the label comparison, though. We have not tasted the other two alongside it.

The important production difference is the wood. Regular Penelope Architect uses French oak staves; Architects of Golf uses American oak staves. That gives this release a different direction from the regular Architect finishing series.

We also love the bottle design. One of us plans to refill it with something else once it is empty, just to keep it on the shelf.

Nose: toasted marshmallow and wood smoke

The nose leans sweeter than regular Architect, closer to Crème Brûlée Architect. Toasted marshmallow and caramelized sugar stand out, but there is plenty of smoke around them.

We get charred wood, almost like a charcoal fire or a wood-fired smokehouse. There is also a fresh-bread quality, like walking into a bakery using a wood-fired oven. That combination gives the sweetness more character than a simple vanilla-heavy nose.

Palate: vanilla cream, dark chocolate, and cherry

Vanilla cream arrives right away, followed by a little caramel. Then dark chocolate becomes the standout flavor. Depending on the sip, we could call it chocolate pudding or chocolate mousse, with a rich dark cherry note underneath.

Architect often gives us a dessert-like profile, including the regular and Crème Brûlée versions. Hole 3 has enough spice to keep that sweetness from taking over. It tastes rich without becoming overly sweet or artificial.

We would not lump this in with Penelope Rio. We do not get that same added-flavor impression here. This is a finished bourbon that still tastes like bourbon.

The individuality reminds us of Maker’s Mark’s special stave releases. We mean the way different stave choices create a distinct profile, not that Hole 3 tastes like Maker’s Mark.

Mouthfeel and finish: warmth, rye spice, and barrel char

We would not have guessed 94 proof from the sip. The warmth and flavor complexity make it drink closer to 110 proof to us, even though the actual proof is much lower.

The mouthfeel surprised us, too. The coating does not have a lot of longevity, but it makes an impression while it is there. That dark chocolate feels almost chewable.

It carries into the finish, where rye spice, barrel char, and baking spice come forward. Oak stays present throughout the sip without turning bitter. We think the dark chocolate helps keep it in check, bringing its own slightly tart edge.

Hole 3 seems to accomplish the bolder profile shown on its scorecard. The oak influence pushes through, but the flavors still feel cohesive.

Toasted bourbon fans have a reason to try it

There is enough toastiness here to put Hole 3 in the toasted bourbon conversation. We love Penelope Toasted Rye, and this release gives us that appealing oak-driven sweetness, too.

Here, we get toasted sugar with a little more vanilla than we normally expect from a toasted bourbon. If that is your kind of pour, Hole 3 is worth considering.

Regular Architect fans should also find something to like, although this has a different flavor profile. We would like to compare them directly before going further than that.

Our skip advice applies if your priority is:

• Barrel-proof whiskey.
• An oak-forward finish.
• A traditional Kentucky profile without finishing influences.

A better pour after golf than during it

Despite the theme, we would not choose this for drinking on the golf course in summer. It feels too heavy for that setting. After the round, though, a glass makes much more sense to us.

On the course, our preference would be a peach old fashioned, some ice, and sweet tea. Hole 3 is the richer pour we would save for afterward.

The whiskey earns its place beyond the golf theme

We were skeptical that this would be a gimmick. Penelope sometimes leans that way to us, but we would give this the same rating with the brand name covered up. It feels distinct enough that we could see it standing as its own line.

At $50 a bottle, buying all three holes comes to $150. We would try each individually before committing to the others. Liking Hole 3 gives us a reason to explore the next bottle, not a reason to assume the whole set will land the same way.