Angel’s Envy Cask Strength Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Port Barrels
2014 Release
59.65% ABV
$169
Website
What the Bottler Says:
Louisville Distilling Company is proud to announce the limited-edition release of the critically acclaimed Angel’s Envy Cask Strength. The Expression will be available this October in select markets including: CA, CO, FL, GA, IL, IN, KY, MA, MI, NJ, NY, OR, TN, TX, WA. Due to the scarcity of barrels necessary for the enhanced finishing process, Angel’s Envy will only release 6,500 bottles. Previous releases quickly sold out.
Named “best spirit in the world” by Paul Pacult in the June 2013 edition of Spirit Journal, Cask Strength shared top honors with a 25-year-old single malt whisky that sold for nearly twice the price. In his review, Pacult awarded the brand five stars – his highest recommendation – noting, “this masterpiece deserves a sixth rating star.”
As with Angel’s Envy, the super-premium bourbon of uncompromising character and quality, Cask Strength is aged to the perfect level of richness and maturity (up to seven years) in the few American white oak barrels that made the cut. The barrels are then blended into a single batch and finished in hand-selected port casks.
“Cask Strength is rare and rich bourbon worth savoring,” said Wes Henderson, Chief Innovation Officer, Angel’s Envy. “The first couple of releases sold out quickly so we’re thrilled to make it even more widely available this year.”
The suggested retail price for a 750ml bottle, which may vary by market, is $169. A remarkably complex bourbon at 119.3-proof and 59.65% alcohol by volume, Cask Strength is best enjoyed with just a bit of water to release the flavor nuances.
Angel’s Envy Cask Strength Tasting Notes
Color: Deep Amber red tint, coppery
Nose: Toffee, Butterscotch, Toasted Oak, Cherries, Ripe Peach, Berry Jam, Vanilla, notes of banana
Palate: Lots of port notes: Cherries, Oak, raisins. Still get a beautiful bourbon feel with Vanilla, Honey, a butter velvet feel, a little bit of clove spice, honeysuckle
Finish/Feel: Glides around your palate, lingers for a few moments, but not too long as to keep you from another sip. Add some water and it opens nicely. Warm and sweet, but still tingly.
What Gary Says:
Nose: Old leather furniture (the comfortable stuff!); orange marmalade on toast, caramel crème candy and tobacco. The port finish is just beneath all of this, and holds it together beautifully.
Palate: A rich, chewy mouthfeel of dark candied fruit with cinnamon, caramel and toffee; a dry sweetness.
Finish: Shorter than I would like, but well organized with a soft landing that leaves me looking to refill the glass.
Comments: This is the kind of whiskey I could pour a dram of and just sniff the glass for a few hours; a really intriguing nose. Despite being nearly 120 proof, I find this quite drinkable neat. With a bit of water, you don’t lose the balance between the port pipe influence and the bourbon, and the mouthfeel nicely transitioned from chewy to creamy. The port shines through more for me on this cask strength offering, much more than it did on the initial release. To be candid, I was not a big fan of the first release, but I think this is a beautifully crafted whiskey.
Rating: Must Try
What Richard Says:
Nose: The nose is a little heavier on the port that what comes across in the regular bottling. Hints of vanilla but there is also a treacly syrup note that reminds me more of single scotch than a bourbon.
Palate: The mouth feel is so rich and creamy that it’s almost like bourbon and port syrup. Citrus, tree pitch, and a fair dose of vanilla.
Finish: Long, slow, and surprisingly smooth for a cask strength bourbon.
Comments: Very nice. The price makes this one hard to swallow but it’s a delicious bourbon none the less.
Rating: Stands Out
We would like to thank Ro-Bro Marketing & PR for sending us a sample to review.