Angel's Envy Cask Strength Bourbon Finished in Port Wine Barrels (2019 Edition)

The year's end brings a special limited yearly bottling to celebrate. This is envisioned as a final toast to 2019, offering one of the year's best in a festive manner. Hopefully, this becomes a recurring ritual for years to come. This distillery holds personal significance; it was the first bourbon place visited, accompanied by a friend with more whiskey knowledge and less funds. At Angel’s Envy, a personalized bottle of the port finish was filled, involving a ceremony and a signature. This experience, which began with a lack of bourbon enthusiasm, significantly shifted that perspective. Shortly after this July 2018 visit, bourbon became a passion. No regrets are felt about this change. The aroma is misleading. A 61.2% ABV should not be this approachable. This scent is more pleasing than the standard AE and my current preferred port finish, Isaac Bowman. Notes of cherry, grape, and vanilla are present. It’s a typical port finish aroma, but executed well. It gives an impression of sweetness, akin to a well-crafted sangria, rather than dryness. This is highly encouraging. The palate does not conceal the alcohol content, but this is not an issue. Cherry is the dominant flavor. It's difficult to recall a spirit delivering such an unadulterated cherry taste previously. Vanilla is also detectable, along with a hint of tart orange. It is quite enjoyable. Regarding the mouthfeel of this finish, it might not suit everyone. My lips and gums experience a numbing sensation after only a few sips. While personally enjoyed, it is remarkably intense. The flavor profile evolves from tartness and sweet fruit into notes of vanilla, cinnamon, and a subtle leathery quality. Dark chocolate is also present, though less pronounced. With ice: Spirits with such intensity are often sampled with a bit of ice to observe the transformation. From beginning to end, chilling reduces the sweetness considerably. Initially, it could be mistaken for a unique bourbon rather than a barrel-finished spirit. The diminished sweetness makes the port influence more apparent, yet it remains a delightful beverage. As expected, some nuances are lost with ice, but the cherry and vanilla notes persist. It is puzzling how increased alcohol and temperature can enhance sweetness, but the effect is undeniable. This is a fantastic bottle. While the $220 price is high, it is a worthwhile purchase for special moments shared with companions. There are numerous enjoyable aspects. Future purchases are intended if the opportunity arises. This December exploration has been very satisfying. If you have accumulated bottles, undertaking a similar project periodically is highly recommended. Numerous excellent bottles are now open, allowing for casual enjoyment without pressure. Significant insights have been gained. For instance, it appears to be against guidelines to initiate a review request for a liqueur, despite its availability as a selection option. It has also been realized that Booker’s are meant for consumption, not for storage. The affection for bourbon seems tied to American identity, perceived now as a subjective preference influenced by regional availability rather than an objective truth. The upcoming year's focus is on exploring the world of scotch. Gratitude is extended to all who engaged with the content throughout the past month, enhancing the experiment's enjoyment. If in the Chicago vicinity, feel free to connect for a whiskey outing. Happy holidays!

Was lucky enough to do a side by side comparison of the 2019 and 2020 releases, both tasted neat in a glencairn. The nose of the 2019 was fairly flat, especially in comparison to the 2020. The darker fruits were there but I really had to search for them; I kept coming back to the glass thinking I was missing something, but to be honest I think it was just lacking. I did, however, at one point get a crème brûlée note. The 2020, however, was a very fruit-forward nose; the wine finish really showed itself and it was very inviting, no contest between the two. The palates were surprisingly different for me compared to what I was expecting; I thought they would be more similar than they were. Despite the obvious heat due to the ABV, the 2019 was quite a bit spicier than the 2020. The 2020 just seemed more complex. It started out dry and tannic, but then the citrus fruit notes started taking over and balanced it out very nicely. When it came to the finish, I got the slightest touch of smoke on the 2019, but for the most part it was a continuation of the palate. I didn’t get any noticeable different notes on the finish of the 2020. Both were mostly just a fairly long extension of the palates. Overall, I think the 2019 is a great pour by itself, but my rating may have been brought down a bit because of the side by side with the 2020. Everyone has their own tastes and opinions, but to me, the 2020 was the better pour here! I would give the 2019 a rating of 4 and the 2020 a 4.5.

I tasted this as a 2 oz pour neat in a glen cairn. What immediately stood out was the nose. There is a sweet, cherry and oak combination that is delightful. The palate is on the sweeter side but not overwhelming. There is an initial blast of heat and then a really nice berries and cream flavor followed by a butterscotch finish. A dash of water releases some nutmeg and allspice and enhances the oak. Nicely done. Overall- I was impressed. That said $200 is a hefty price to pay. I think that the nice wood box accounts for some of that. I appreciated the fullness and the sweetness balanced by the spice. It reminded me very much of some of the Barrel Proof Rye I enjoy- Michters Barrel Proof immediately came to mind. Price being a factor, it brings what would be a 4.5 for me down to a 4.0.

Poured neat. The aroma was very subtle, making it difficult to discern specific scents, though I detected some port wine, oak, raisin, and vanilla. The palate featured vanilla and raisin, with a hint of port wine barrel and rye on the finish. The finish was short to medium in length and warmer than expected for its proof, bringing back some port wine oak barrel and a lingering leather note. It's not bad, but it didn't meet my expectations. It's overhyped and overrated, in my opinion. Edit: After aging in my cabinet for some time, this bottle has improved significantly and is better than when I initially reviewed it. Edited 8-7-2021.

The observations about this spirit having a sharp edge are accurate. I generally enjoy spirits with a higher proof, yet this serving feels overly fiery and lacking equilibrium. Introducing water tempers the intensity but unfortunately diminishes the overall personality. The aroma presents maple syrup (typical for the brand), pear, caramel, white pepper, and a subtle touch of rye bread. The initial taste offers a rich, mellow sweetness of vanilla/caramel that is swiftly overwhelmed by heat, a medicinal/astringent quality, and green pepper, before concluding with a pleasant cashew and char aftertaste that lingers warmly.

Absolutely amazing. It's interesting because, while I really like the AE Rye (Rum Barrel), I'm not a huge fan of the standard Bourbon (Port Barrel). But this is on another level. Deep sweet vanilla aroma. It has a Creme Brule note in the aroma (toasted sugar, vanilla, and cream). Some coffee notes with some butterscotch and more vanilla in the flavor. So deep and the finish is fantastic. A few drops of water open this up nicely. I will look for this and would openly seek a bottle. You would be wise to do the same!