When you think about bourbon partnerships, your mind probably jumps to celebrity endorsements or collaborations between distilleries. But the latest release from Penelope Bourbon is breaking that mold entirely, teaming up with an unexpected partner that has nothing to do with the spirits industry.
Penelope Bourbon has joined forces with Serena & Lily, a home furnishings company, to create Penelope Beaufain Four Grain Bourbon. This unusual pairing brings together two distinct worlds – craft spirits and interior design – in a way that hasn't been seen before in the whiskey market.
A Toast to Charleston's Legacy
The collaboration isn't random. It's deeply rooted in the rich history of Charleston, South Carolina, a city known for its preservation of Southern tradition and architectural beauty. The Lowcountry region has long captured the imagination of visitors and residents alike with its historic homes, Spanish moss-draped oaks, and centuries-old customs.
The timing of this release coincides with Serena & Lily opening its first retail location in Charleston. For a home furnishings brand built on coastal aesthetics and Southern charm, the historic city represents an ideal market.
What makes this bourbon truly distinctive is the story behind its name and design. The bottle features a pattern that mirrors historic floral wallpaper discovered in a Charleston residence on Beaufain Street. That home dates back to 1838, a time when Charleston was already well-established as a center of culture and commerce in the South.
The wallpaper motif isn't just decorative – it represents a tangible connection to Charleston's past. By incorporating this historical design element, the collaboration creates a bridge between modern craft spirits and the preservation of Southern heritage.
The Craft Behind the Bottle
At the helm of this project is Danny Polise, Penelope Bourbon's co-founder and master blender. Polise crafted this expression specifically with Charleston's character in mind. The result is an 84-proof bourbon that aims to capture the essence of the Lowcountry's relaxed, refined lifestyle.
The flavor profile reads like a classic bourbon with notes that whiskey enthusiasts will recognize immediately. Caramel and vanilla form the sweet foundation, while toasted grain and sweet corn add depth and character. Oak aging contributes woody complexity, and baking spices round out the experience with warmth and subtle heat.
"It's a bourbon made with Charleston in mind. A blend that makes you want to slow down and enjoy each sip," Polise says.
That sentiment speaks to something larger than just the liquid in the bottle. It reflects a philosophy about how bourbon should be enjoyed – not rushed, but savored. In a world that often moves too fast, this approach to whiskey consumption aligns with Charleston's reputation as a place where time seems to move at its own pace.
Michael Paladini, Penelope's co-founder and vice president of strategy, emphasized the intentional nature of the collaboration. The partnership wasn't just about slapping a brand name on a bottle.
"We couldn't be more excited to collaborate with Serena & Lily on this limited release," Paladini noted. "Much like Serena & Lily brings the Beaufain design to life through pattern and texture, we approached this blend by thoughtfully curating flavors with the same intention the brand brings to its designs."
This statement reveals the core philosophy behind the project. Just as interior designers carefully select colors, patterns, and textures to create cohesive spaces, the master blender approached this bourbon with similar attention to how individual flavor components work together.
Four Grains, One Vision
The name "Four Grain Bourbon" tells you something important about what's in the bottle. While the specific grain bill hasn't been disclosed, four-grain bourbons typically include corn (which must make up at least 51% by law for the spirit to be called bourbon), along with three other grains that might include rye, wheat, and malted barley in various combinations.
Image credit: Penelope Bourbon
Each grain contributes distinct characteristics. Corn provides sweetness, rye adds spice, wheat brings softness, and malted barley contributes enzymatic activity necessary for fermentation along with subtle nutty flavors. The art of blending comes down to finding the right proportions to achieve the desired taste profile.
For this release, Polise appears to have aimed for balance – creating something approachable yet interesting, smooth but not boring. The 84-proof bottling strength sits comfortably in the middle range, offering enough alcohol warmth to carry flavors without overwhelming the palate.
The Scarcity Factor
Here's where collectors and bourbon hunters need to pay attention. This isn't a bourbon you'll find sitting on shelves indefinitely. Only 246 cases are being produced for this release.
To put that in perspective, a standard case contains twelve bottles. That means roughly 2,952 bottles total will exist of Penelope Beaufain Four Grain Bourbon. In the world of bourbon collecting, that's an extremely limited run.
Distribution will be equally limited. The bourbon will be available through online channels and at select retailers in Charleston and the surrounding markets. This geographic concentration makes sense given the Charleston-centric theme of the collaboration, but it also means anyone outside the region will need to act quickly to secure a bottle online.
The brand hasn't announced pricing yet, though limited releases typically command premium prices. Given the collaboration aspect, the historical design elements, and the scarcity of bottles, this will likely be positioned as a special occasion purchase rather than an everyday sipper.
What This Means for the Bourbon Industry
This collaboration represents something interesting happening in the spirits market. Bourbon brands are increasingly looking beyond traditional partnerships to create unique products that stand out in a crowded marketplace.
The craft spirits movement has matured to the point where quality bourbon is more accessible than ever. With so many excellent options available, distillers and brands need to find new ways to differentiate themselves and tell compelling stories.
By partnering with a home furnishings company, Penelope Bourbon has created something that lifestyle-oriented consumers can connect with on multiple levels. It's not just about what the bourbon tastes like – it's about what it represents and the aesthetic experience surrounding it.
This approach mirrors trends in other consumer categories where brands create lifestyle ecosystems rather than just selling individual products. The bourbon becomes part of a larger narrative about taste, design, and Southern living.
The Charleston Connection
Charleston's influence on this project can't be overstated. The city has experienced a cultural renaissance in recent years, becoming a destination for food, design, and historic preservation. Its mix of old and new, tradition and innovation, makes it an ideal muse for a project like this.
The Lowcountry aesthetic that Serena & Lily specializes in draws heavily from Charleston's architectural and design traditions. Think airy spaces, natural materials, subtle coastal influences, and a color palette inspired by the region's marshlands and beaches.
By creating a bourbon inspired by the same source material, the collaboration creates synergy between two different product categories that share common aesthetic values. Someone who appreciates the design sensibility of Serena & Lily might very well appreciate the thoughtful blending approach that went into this bourbon.
The Beaufain Street connection adds authenticity. This isn't a generic "Southern bourbon" – it's tied to a specific place, a specific street, and a specific piece of Charleston's architectural history. That specificity gives the product depth and meaning beyond just being another limited release.
A Different Kind of Collectible
For bourbon collectors, this release presents an interesting proposition. It's not from a legendary distillery with centuries of history. It's not a celebrity collaboration with built-in fan appeal. Instead, it's something more unusual – a crossover between two lifestyle brands that don't typically intersect.
That uniqueness might make it particularly collectible. In twenty years, when someone finds a dusty bottle of Penelope Beaufain Four Grain Bourbon, the story behind it will be worth telling. It represents a specific moment in bourbon history when brands were experimenting with unexpected partnerships and finding new ways to connect with consumers.
Of course, whether you choose to collect it or drink it comes down to personal preference. The master blender created this bourbon to be enjoyed, not just displayed. Those tasting notes – the caramel, vanilla, oak, and spice – suggest a bourbon that would pair well with the kind of evening you might spend in a beautifully designed Charleston home, perhaps on a piazza watching the sun set over the harbor.
Looking Forward
Whether this partnership represents a one-off experiment or the beginning of a trend remains to be seen. If successful, we might see more unexpected collaborations between spirits brands and companies from entirely different industries.
The bourbon market continues to evolve, with consumers showing increased interest in craft expressions, limited releases, and products with strong storytelling elements. Penelope Beaufain Four Grain Bourbon checks all those boxes while adding something genuinely new to the mix.
For now, with only 246 cases available, the question isn't whether this bourbon will find an audience – it's whether there will be enough to meet demand. Those interested in securing a bottle will need to move quickly once it becomes available.
The collaboration between Penelope Bourbon and Serena & Lily proves that inspiration can come from unexpected places. By looking beyond the usual spirits industry partnerships, they've created something that stands out in a crowded market – a bourbon that's as much about design, history, and lifestyle as it is about what's in the glass.
