If you followed OUR VISIT TO LOUISVILLE THIS PAST AUGUST, you may remember my excitement in tasting Angel's Envy very own aged distillate for the first time. If you're confused as to what that means, let me clear it up: Angel's Envy has—up until very, very recently—purchased Bourbon from another Kentucky distiller and bottled that whiskey under the Angel's Envy label. In 2017 (or circa), they began distilling their own Bourbon. In 2022, that whiskey passed the five year mark.
We're excited to tell you that this barrel is one of the first from that new DNA. And, believe us, you can taste the difference.
While selecting a barrel, we were able to sample each Port-finished cask side by an unfinished cask of the new Angel's Envy Bourbon as a control. Knowing we were choosing from stocks of the new distillate, we wanted to give our customers the chance to taste the whiskey itself in as pure of a state as possible. Hence, we searched around for the Port cask with the least amount of influence, rather than the richest, most dessert-y expression. There was an incredible specimen that lived up to the hedonistic and supple delight that is Angel’s Envy at full proof, brimming with candied fruit and dark chocolate flavors. However, we chose the one that tasted the most like Bourbon and the least like Port.
And let me also tell you: the new Angel’s Envy-distilled Bourbon is GOOD. It's deliciously woody, mellow on the palate, rich up the middle, and seductively sweet on the finish—and that's before the port maturation! That little kiss of red fruit on the back end is most certainly present in this single barrel expression, but it's far from the focus. You may not even know it was finished in Port were it not labeled on the front of the bottle. If anything, it just tastes good old fashioned Kentucky Bourbon with a kick from the 110 proof.
We’re excited to be one of the first store's in America to bring you back a barrel directly from the distillery. We hope you love it as much as we do!