Penelope Bourbon Expands Ready-to-Pour Line with Black Walnut Old Fashioned

MGP Ingredients is expanding its Penelope Bourbon ready-to-pour cocktail lineup with Black Walnut Old Fashioned, a premium bottled cocktail available nationwide starting August 2025 at $29.99 per 750mL bottle. The new variety, along with Peach Old Fashioned, has earned platinum medals at the 2025 ASCOT Awards, highlighting Penelope Bourbon's commitment to quality and craftsmanship in the premium cocktail segment.

MGP Ingredients, a leading producer and supplier of beverage alcohol products, has announced the expansion of its Penelope Bourbon ready-to-pour cocktail lineup with the introduction of Black Walnut Old Fashioned. The new premium bottled cocktail will be available nationwide starting in August 2025, priced at $29.99 per 750mL bottle [1].

Black Walnut Old Fashioned is crafted at 76 proof (38% ABV), combining award-winning Penelope straight bourbon and rye whiskey with black walnut bitters and vanilla demerara. This latest innovation follows the successful launch of Peach Old Fashioned, which also earned a platinum medal at the 2025 ASCOT Awards [2].

The new cocktail represents a strategic move by MGP Ingredients to strengthen its position in the high-growth premium cocktail segment. The premium pricing and higher alcohol content compared to many competing ready-to-drinks offer consumers better perceived value. Both Black Walnut Old Fashioned and Peach Old Fashioned have earned platinum medals at the 2025 ASCOT Awards, providing immediate credibility in a crowded marketplace [3].

The timing of the launch, coinciding with late-summer consumption occasions, is particularly strategic. The convenience factor of ready-to-pour cocktails continues to drive category growth, solving a critical consumer pain point by delivering consistent, high-quality craft cocktails without requiring mixology skills or ingredient sourcing.

For MGP Ingredients, this product launch leverages its vertical integration advantages, utilizing its own bourbon and rye whiskey production capabilities while capturing higher margins through finished product sales rather than just supplying spirits to third-party brands.

References:
[1] https://www.fredminnick.com/2025/08/07/penelope-bourbon-releases-black-walnut-old-fashioned-rtd/
[2] https://www.nasdaq.com/press-release/penelope-bourbon-extends-its-line-award-winning-ready-pour-offerings-black-walnut-old
[3] https://www.stocktitan.net/news/MGPI/penelope-bourbon-extends-its-line-of-award-winning-ready-to-pour-b2bznhni587o.html