Penelope F*ck Cancer Blend of Straight Whiskeys
- Mar 25
- 3 min read
Updated: Mar 29
PLEASE REMEMBER TO DRINK RESPONSIBLY
PLEASE REMEMBER TO DRINK RESPONSIBLY
About This Spirit from the Maker
Source: FCancer - Penelope Bourbon
This one’s personal. A cause close to our hearts.
A bottle that makes a difference. Four years ago, we created our first FCancer blend to honor a teammate who lost someone they loved. What began as a tribute has grown into something bigger – an annual opportunity to bring people together, support the fight, and honor the stories behind every battle.
Tasting Notes
Aroma: A pop of sweet cream and brown sugar
Body: Giving way to a rich, balanced, bold whiskey loaded with baking spice, rich honey, toffee and brûlée
Finish: Bold, balanced, complex
Bourbon Facts
Type: Blend of Straight Whiskeys
Proof: 114.6 Proof
Age: 6 years
Mash Bill: 48% Corn, 46% Rye, 3% Malted Rye, 3% Malted Barley
PLEASE REMEMBER TO DRINK RESPONSIBLY
How We Feel About the Spirit
A Survivor’s Pour: His First Sip After Hearing “Cancer Free”
When we bought this bottle, we knew exactly when it would be opened. Not for a random Friday night. Not for a tasting flight. Not even for a special occasion. This bottle had one purpose — to wait for the day we could finally breathe again.
Tonight was that night.
After two years of fighting, healing, hoping, and holding our breath, my husband opened the Penelope F*ck Cancer Blend to celebrate the words we’ve prayed for: cancer free.
And in true fashion, he didn’t rush it. He sat with the glass for fifteen quiet minutes, letting the moment settle in before the first sip.
On the Nose
The first thing that struck him was the sweetness — not cloying, not hot, just inviting. At 94 proof, the alcohol stays in the background, letting the fruit come forward. Every time he returned to the glass, something new surfaced: vanilla, honey, caramel, then flashes of cherry and even grape.
There was a moment where he paused, smiled, and said it reminded him of the grape‑and‑cherry bubble gum from childhood. That’s the thing about scent — it pulls memories from places you didn’t expect.
And when he dipped to the bottom of the Glencairn, the oakiness came through, grounding all that sweetness with a warm, woody base.
He was impressed — genuinely impressed — by how layered and expressive the nose was.
On the Palate
The first sip surprised him. The sweetness landed exactly as expected — honey, vanilla, caramel — but the heat on the finish was bolder than he anticipated from a 94‑proof bourbon.
But as he sat with it, sip after sip, the bourbon softened. The heat mellowed. The sweetness stretched out. The finish smoothed into something far more balanced.
It was almost symbolic — the way something sharp can become gentler with time.
The Pairing That Brought It All Together
He paired the pour with a Tatiana Nightcap cigar, rich with chocolate, coffee, and brownie notes. The combination was magic.
The cigar’s dessert‑leaning profile softened the bourbon’s heat, while the bourbon’s sweetness lifted the cigar’s darker notes. Together, they created a chocolate‑smoke finish that wrapped the moment in warmth.
A Pour With Purpose
This wasn’t just a tasting.
This wasn’t just a review.
This was a milestone — a closing of one chapter and the beginning of another.
The Penelope F*ck Cancer Blend was created to honor fighters, survivors, and the people who love them. Tonight, it did exactly that.
And for the first time in a long time, the glass wasn’t raised in fear or uncertainty.
It was raised in gratitude.
In relief.
In victory.
PLEASE REMEMBER TO DRINK RESPONSIBLY
Related Cocktails
Penelope’s Spiced Apple Cider Mule
INGREDIENTS
2 ounces of Penelope Bourbon
2 ounces of Ginger Beer
Splash of Apple Cider
Pour Penelope & Ginger Beer into shaker with ice. Shake well and serve in copper cup. Garnish with Cinnamon stick. Add Cinnamon over the top for garnish
PLEASE REMEMBER TO DRINK RESPONSIBLY
Disclaimer: Cigar smoking and drinking alcohol are for adults of legal smoking and drinking age. Life’s Rants promotes the responsible and legal enjoyment of premium cigars and alcohol by individuals of legal age. We do not endorse or encourage smoking or drinking among minors.
Comments