Here at the Whiskey Network, we love whiskey (as you might expect). But we also love all the other delicious beverages out there, and whiskey influenced by those other beverages. With this month’s Dice and Drams, I decided to take a step into the wine world and pair up a wine-finished whiskey with a wine-focused game: Penelope Rosé Cask Finish with Viticulture Essential Edition. If you like feeling elegant and classy, this pairing is for you.
The Pairing: Penelope Rosé Cask Finish and Viticulture Essential Edition
The Whiskey: Penelope Rosé Cask Finish
I heard someone say that this bottle is more of a wine experience than a whiskey one, and I think I agree with that. The rosé influence is obvious, with cherry, strawberry, and floral notes all being front and center on the nose and palate. Being 94 proof, it doesn’t drink hot at all, enhancing the impression that you’re perhaps enjoying a wine. There are traditional bourbon notes of caramel and vanilla present, but they’re low-key and can be missed if you’re not looking for them. This pour isn’t complex, yet it invites you to ponder what you’re drinking due to how unique it is compared to other whiskies. I’ve had plenty of sherry and port finishes, but never a rosé, and I have to say I’m impressed – the fruit the finish brings forward is delicious. Of course, if you want your whiskey to be whiskey and your wine to be wine, this bottle might not be for you, but if you’re looking for a unique bourbon, this might be up your alley.
For a comparison, this pour reminds me a lot of Red Breast 12 year – another fruit forward, lighter sipper that I really enjoy. This feels like the whiskey equivalent of a summer shandy – something light to sip and enjoy on your deck on a hot summer evening.
The Game: Viticulture Essential Edition
Viticulture was one of the the first games I owned with enough heft to be called medium weight, so it holds a special place in my heart. Thematically, each player is taking over the family vineyard in Tuscany and is attempting to expand it into a successful winery. A round takes place over the four seasons, where different actions open up to you as you progress through them – you plant your vines in spring, you host visitors in the summer, you harvest your grapes in the fall, etc. – and this gives the game a pleasant rhythm. The art marries the theme quite well, helping evoke the pleasant and wholesome feelings of what it would be like to run a small family winery in Tuscany.
Mechanically, though, it would be a mistake to assume the same thematic pleasantness extends to how the game feels to play. Viticulture is a worker placement game, which means that you place a worker on the board to trigger the actions. Most spots only allow one worker in each space, which means that players can be blocked from actions they need. This creates a competitive race to the most important spaces, with some moves purely being made to block other players. Your workers can also be used only once per year, which makes planning your use of those workers incredibly important.
Ultimately, the feeling of building up your winery into one that chugs out in-demand chardonnay, merlot, or rosé every year is quite satisfying. The game manages to create this feeling while also not being complex in its rule set which opens it up to a wider audience. I can pull this one off the shelf knowing I’m in for a pleasant yet compelling experience.
The Final Pairing:
Let’s get the obvious out of the way: I couldn’t help but pair a bourbon finished in rosé casks with a game about winemaking. Sue me, I took the low-hanging fruit. Beyond that, though, I feel that the experience of drinking Penelope Rosé Finish and playing Viticulture evoke similar feelings in a way that make them an enjoyable pairing. Both are gentle and pleasant, yet there’s enough underneath the surface to each that you’re not left wanting more. Both are crowd pleasers too – accessible enough to be enjoyed by people who might not otherwise be interested in whiskey or board-gaming. The Penelope, especially, is a great way to bring people into whiskey who might be put off by the higher proof of whiskey otherwise. If you’re looking for an accessible yet satisfying experience, this pairing is for you.
Cheers and happy gaming!
