whiskey

Angel’s Envy Bourbon Review

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I’ve been reading about Angel’s Envy bourbon since it was first released a couple of years ago.  Several weeks ago, I asked the folks at Ro-Bro Marketing for a review sample of Angel’s Envy Rye.  Along with a sample of the rye, they sent a sample of Angel’s Envy Bourbon.   It’s now available in the New Orleans market where I’m based, but it wasn’t a year ago.  On my way back from a road trip to Chicago (I just had to see the Rolling Stones live), I made a detour to Memphis.  The reason, Angel’s Envy was sold in that market.  I picked up a bottle and I’m glad I did:  it quickly became one of my favorite bourbons.

Angel’s Envy is a play on an old distillery term “the angel’s share,” which referred to whiskey that evaporated over time.  If the evaporated whiskey was the angel’s share, what was left in the barrel was their envy.  Angel’s Envy was started by Wes Henderson, whose father Lincoln Henderson was a big name in the American Whiskey industry.  While he worked at Brown-Forman, he helped with the development and launch of Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel and Woodford Reserve – two whiskies I really enjoy.  He came out of retirement to help his son with Angel’s Envy, and I’m glad he did.  They sourced bourbon and finished it in port wine barrels for several months.  Sadly, Lincoln passed away last year.

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The first thing you’ll notice is the bottle.  Its sexy curves and angel’s wings print make for one of the best looking bottles on the shelf.  There’s a really nice sweet caramel aroma.  When I taste this one, I get sweet caramel and toffee, a little vanilla, and a little spiciness (think cinnamon instead of cayenne pepper).   A little berry too, and that’s probably from the port cask.  It’s lush and velvety, but not syrupy.  The sweet and slightly spicy finish slowly fades away.

The idea of finishing bourbon in port wine barrels intrigued me enough to buy a bottle.  It does add a sweet berry quality to the bourbon, and further refines it.  This bourbon is easily drinkable, and I’ve recommended it to anyone who listens.  It’s 86.6 proof and runs about $45 – $50.

Highly recommended.

9/10

Angel’s Envy Rye Whiskey Review

I’ve been wanting to try Angel’s Envy Rye Whiskey for a while now.  Unfortunately, it’s not sold in the New Orleans area.  Thankfully, the folks at Ro-Bro Marketing & PR sent me a small sample.

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This rye whiskey is bottled in the same very attractive bottle as Angel’s Envy Bourbon.   The folks at Angel’s Envy are playing with finishing the whiskies in different barrels.  Where their bourbon is finished in port casks, this rye whiskey is aged at least 6 years then finished in Caribbean rum barrels that used to hold French cognac.  At the moment, they don’t distill their own whiskey so it’s all sourced.

Angel’s Envy Rye is 95% rye bottled at 100 proof.  You wouldn’t know it though.  I didn’t get any strong alcohol vapor from the glass that I do from another 95% rye – Bulleit Rye.  This one is dominated by sweetness, earthiness, and spice… in that order, both in it’s aromas and taste.   The sweetness comes from the rum.  I’ve never tasted a rye whiskey this sweet.  I know there’s rye in there though.  At 95% rye (and 5% barley), the earthiness comes through just fine, but the spiciness is toned down tremendously.  The finish on this is quick and sweet.

A bottle of Angel’s Envy Rye will run you about $70.  This is available in smaller quantities than their seemingly readily-available bourbon.  If you’re into rye whiskey, I’d suggest you give this a try.  It’s an interesting take on that type of whiskey.  This isn’t a traditional rye whiskey.  It’s great, but it’s different.  Now, if you’ve never tasted a rye whiskey, don’t let this be your gateway rye.

Sweet stuff.

8/10

Sazerac 18 Year Old Rye Whiskey (2013) Review

As part of their annual Buffalo Trace Antique Collection, Buffalo Trace releases two rye whiskies:  Thomas Handy Sazerac, a barrel strength version of their regular Sazerac release and Sazerac 18 Year Old.  Both George T Stagg and Sazerac 18 are considered by many the best of the collection.

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Normally a review of this whiskey happens in the fall when this is released, but  I happened to run across a bottle of this recently… and I’m sure glad I did.  This was distilled in the spring of 1985.  When it matured at 18 years, they stopped the aging process by storing the whiskey in stainless steel vats.  This process isn’t uncommon.  Sazerac 18 is also considerably rarer than George T Stagg – 27 barrels versus 157 barrels.  That’s a large variance.  I hear some stores only get 1-2 bottles each fall.

Enough jabbering – how is it?  In a word, refined.  I smell some toffee, a little citrus (orange peel)  and rye earthiness.  When I taste it, this 90 proof Sazerac 18 comes in sweet (fruit & honey) and coats your mouth.  Heck, I even get a tiny hint of chocolate here.  Now, don’t go expecting a Hershey Bar.  The rye spice builds up and tickles the tongue.  There’s also a little oak, but just enough to balance it.  The finish is sweet and slowly fades away.  There is nothing harsh about this whiskey.

Make no mistake, this is one outstanding whiskey.  It’s price tag is about $70, but you’ll probably find it marked up in stores. Is it worth the price? That depends on your budget and how much you enjoy rye whiskey. I’ll easily purchase another bottle IF I run across it again.

One of my new favorite whiskies.

9.5/10