Angel’s Envy Port Wine Finish
43.3% ABV - Kentucky, USA
Nose: The overall impact of the nose here is quite low but slowly wafting upwards are sweet, green and tropical fruits with light citrus, some pineapple, and cola aromas.
Taste: Powerful! Candied citrus – orange, vanilla, red fruits, spices, brown sugar, floral notes, and plums. It’s easy to forget that you are drinking a bourbon. The Port wine finishing does wonders here.
Finish: Light vanilla, oak, cinnamon and chili with other mulled spices. Though the finish is not drawn out very long, every flavour is participating until the end.
This is a very well crafted spirit. The influence of the barrel finish enhances the common notes of bourbon vanilla, honey, and oak. The high rye (18%) in the mash bill provides ample kick and extension of flavour. It’s one of the favourite bourbons I tasted during a recent voyage through Kentucky. Angel’s Envy is simply a fantastic distillery – their rye finished in Caribbean rum casks is also something to note. If available for your area, I highly recommend it.
Details: Batch 48G, Bottle No. 75.
Second Bottle Update! Batch 72K. This is a mini re-review as I have opened a second bottle (and have nearly finished it too!) After mostly sipping on it neat, or with a large cube of ice on one or two occasions, I think this Angel's Envy is better used as a fancier bourbon for cocktails. The flavours are still great, but I have found better value bourbons to sip on. It’s also a great gift..!
Tasted 22 April 2018. (Updated 19 February 2023.)
