Bourbon

Angel’s Envy Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Port Wine Barrels
43.3% ABV
$45
Website

What the Distillery Says:
One man’s masterpiece, Angel’s Envy is an artisan bourbon inspired by Lincoln Henderson’s lifetime spent perfecting his craft and creating fine spirits. There may just be a spark of divine vision mixed in as well. Recognized by Malt Advocate, The Bourbon Review and Maxim as one of the top spirits released in 2010, Angel’s Envy is positioned as the world’s premier super-premium bourbon brand.

Beyond all the press, Angel’s Envy is Lincoln Henderson’s passion — a career culminating in two fingers of the finest bourbon you’ve ever tasted. To call Angel’s Envy “small batch” is an understatement.

Our bourbon starts with the native Kentucky climate and soil in which our corn and rye are grown, and a pristine limestone watershed rich in calcium and magnesium. These local ingredients are distilled and aged for four to six years in American white oak barrels. Because we want to create a genuinely unique spirit, we age it for three to six additional months in hand-selected port casks to create an exceptionally smooth and nuanced bourbon.

Some people might say Lincoln Henderson has a problem when they hear that he personally samples every batch of Angel’s Envy. We agree — he’s a raging perfectionist. Through every step of the process, he personally judges each batch’s readiness. We hope you’ll be able to overlook his condition.

Mr. Henderson describes his masterwork as “a warm spirit, lacking any hint of edginess, with ephemeral hints of port wine and a rich amber hue.” He explains, “My goal with Angel’s Envy is to produce a bourbon of exceptional character. Even with economic fluctuations, consumers want the opportunity to treat themselves to special indulgences, and I have created an affordable luxury that can be savored.” Lincoln Henderson sought to create the best-tasting bourbon on the planet. In our humble opinion, he succeeded.

Shake the bottle. If you’re lucky enough, you might see something special. We like to call it “essence.” We don’t filter our bourbon. If you’re looking for a filtered bourbon, the shelves are full of them. Filtration can remove up to 20% of a bourbon’s flavor and color. We prefer to let our bourbon live in its natural state. If that means an occasional particle, we think you’ll understand.

But why do we call it Angel’s Envy? As bourbon ages in the barrels, it’s drawn into the charred white oak during summer months and it recedes back into the virgin barrels during winter months. For each year of maturation, 5% of the barrel’s bourbon is lost to evaporation. For generations, this precious lost bourbon has been called the Angel’s Share. After tasting his creation, Lincoln Henderson reckoned that the angels might have wanted a bigger cut. Thus, Angel’s Envy was born.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Buttery toffee, caramel, and wildflower honey.
Palate: Delicately sweet. Vanilla and cinnamon stand out with a little more toffee and fruity notes.
Finish: Well balanced. A little wood spice interplays with remnants of the palate to medium length before abruptly turning dry and fading out.
Comments: I’m really liking some of the new finished bourbon’s released recently. The Parker’s Cognac Finish and Angel’s Envy stand out from the crowd. This is a dangerously easy to drink bourbon. Tasty and well balanced.
Rating: Must Try

Four Roses Single Barrel Limited Edition 2012 Release
Barrel Strength Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Warehouse SN, Barrel No. 81-2B, 12 Year Old OESK, 717 of 5178
52.5% ABV/105 Proof
$75 to $85
Website

What the Distillery Says:
For the 2012 Four Roses Single Barrel Limited Edition Release, we have once again hand-selected an uncut and non-chill filtered Barrel Strength masterpiece. This sophisticated, highly-nuanced 12-year old whiskey features a delicate smokey oak nose, creamy vanilla and caramel flavors, along with a smooth, long finish. Proof will range between 100.6-114.4.

Tasting Notes
Nose: Delicate smokey oak, ripe red cherries, nutmeg and hints of toasted almonds.
Palate: Caramel and vanilla, rich honey, cinnamon and brown sugar.
Finish: Smooth and long with soft undertones of toasted almonds.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Out of the bottle it’s classic Four Roses. Burnt caramel, honeysuckle, butter cookies, and rye spice. Water opens up woody notes and hints of licorice. There is also some mixture of aged tobacco and cedar that reminds me of a walk in humidor.
Palate: Brown sugar and rye spice. This bottle has a tenuous relationship with water. A little mellows it out and makes it really drinkable but it’s easy to put too much. At that point it’s like drinking Yellow Label.
Finish: It’s 52.5% ABV out of the bottle so it’s a little hot. With water it mellows nicely to oak, black pepper, and a little more licorice.
Comments: I wasn’t bowled over by last year’s release. I found it underwhelming and overshadowed by the small batch limited edition. This year’s OESK 12 Year Old really shines. I first got to try this at a lunch with Jim Rutledge several months ago and instantly knew they had something. A lovely expression of one of my favorite Four Roses recipes.
Rating: Must Try

I would like to thank The Baddish Group for sending me a bottle to review.