Angel's Envy Rye Finished in Ice Cider Casks (2022 Cellar Collection)

Taste - 2 oz. Neat in a Glen Cairn glass, then with 3-4 drops of water in a 1oz pour. The color is a lovely dark, shimmering amber. Nose - Delicious candied apple taffy and vanilla ice cream. There's also a hint of roasted peanuts. This aroma reminds one of wandering through a fair with a freshly dipped apple on a stick. Truly captivating and exceptionally crafted! Palate - The viscosity is remarkable. It coats the glass like maple syrup, but without being overly sugary or sticky. It's so coating and elegantly coats the sides of the glass and upon entry, almost like butter spread on a fresh roll. Even before I begin to identify flavors, the mouthfeel signals that this will be a treat. There's some peanut brittle, then a slight hint of a spicier note that reminds me this is a rye and not a bourbon as it enters. I appreciate this peppery note because without it, this might have become too sweet. This note creates balance. I detect some oak mid-palate, yellow butterscotch candy, pulled saltwater taffy, and that crisp, vibrant Granny Smith apple I noticed on the nose, all dipped in vanilla ice cream! A touch of water reveals some cinnamon stick, but in my opinion, it's best enjoyed as is. The water slightly diminished the viscosity and only served to dilute what I was thoroughly enjoying. Finish - The finish has an earthy quality. I detect an almost ginger taste as it leaves, along with a bit of an umami sensation. The final note definitely shifts to brown sugar. Overall - I was quite concerned about the price. Is this just another overhyped bottle? $250 for a non-age-stated, finished rye, even if it's cask strength and from a producer with some incredible successes and some significant failures? The unusual finishing concept, however, drew me in. Ice cider????? I recall a certain hockey player doing something similar with ice wine casks (it was mediocre, sorry #99), but that's quite different from fermented apples as opposed to sweet, icy grapes. However, this truly impressed me. It was unique, complex, flavorful, rich, and damn good! Do I like the $250 price tag? No. Do I believe it's worth $250? I truly don't think there are more than a handful of whiskies worth over $100! Setting aside the ridiculous limited price, this is a solid 4.75 for me based on its innovation, taste, character, and execution. Factor in the silly 'limited pricing,' the elaborate box, and the frosted bottle which I could do without, and it drops to a 4.0. Since I don't decide your spending, and I only rate the whiskey... my overall rating reflects what's inside the bottle, not the price tag.

Immediate white pepper, but it ultimately evokes a fall day. It's like apple pie with ice cream topped with a tiny bit of cinnamon. The apples are sweet yet savory, as if they were buttered and fried. A pleasant oily coating appears midway. The end becomes dry with more white pepper and oak tingling the tongue, while the apples never fully disappear. It's very good and will be enjoyable, but for the price, I'll stick with their Caribbean Cask version which costs a quarter of the amount.

This delightful rye carries a spicy character and a sweetness reminiscent of ice cider, akin to ice wine. It offers hints of Granny Smith apples, vanilla ice cream, white chocolate, maple syrup, lychees, cloves, root beer, tangerines, pineapple syrup, cinnamon, cloves, brown sugar, pecans, and spearmint.

Nose-Astringent, green apple Body- Very rich, candy-like green apple Finish- Orange juice that has gone sour It has some flavors I appreciate, but they are too intense. It tastes hotter than its price would suggest.

This is so excessively overpriced that it doesn't warrant a full breakdown. There's nothing special about it. It's just sweet. Save your money and purchase good whiskey and bourbon in the $50-80 range.

Wow, the first Angel's Envy I've sampled, and this one is remarkable. The nose is like an apple orchard in autumn; the taste is so unique, unlike anything I've experienced before. Very pleased a friend shared this one.