Angel's Envy Triple Oak

You know, each time I sample something new from Angel's Envy, I'm not immediately impressed. Perhaps it's because I was never truly fond of the port finish on their original bourbon. It always leaned too heavily into red fruit territory for me, especially for a bourbon. Yet, here I am trying another new release from Angel's Envy. This time, it's the Triple Oak, a new addition to their core range. The aroma of this selection appears quite appealing. Sweetened cream, vanilla, and caramel create a sweet, viscous initial impression on the nose. There are fruit notes, like baked apples and cherries, reminiscent of pie filling. Delving deeper into the aroma, you encounter a more spicy and tannic profile, including charred oak and baking spice. It begins innocently enough with milk chocolate, vanilla, and caramel at the front of the palate. That chocolate develops an almost chocolate-covered roasted nut quality in the middle, and then it truly blossoms into something significantly drier and spicier than I anticipated. Tannic oak, black peppercorn, and cinnamon take over the palate from three-quarters of the way through to the very back. This bourbon leaves your tongue feeling a bit tingly from the spice. The finish is dominated by tannic oak, bittersweet dark chocolate powder, and black peppercorns. I believe, as the newest core offering from Angel's Envy, this one is likely the best of the group. However, it's just a bit too tannic and spicy for me to fully enjoy. Tastes are subjective, but I prefer my bourbons somewhere between sweet and cloying.

Nose is full of woody aromas; oak (duh), but also cedar and spruce. More subdued notes of caramel, vanilla, apple, and nutmeg. Ethanol non-existent. Palate much sweeter than the aroma would indicate with creme brûlée, powdered sugar, a fruity date/fig note, cashew nut, citrus zest, and leather, all riding on an underbelly of soft, sweet oak. Not the richest or most complex, but what’s here is nicely presented. Shortish finish turns moderately tannic with more oak (some sweet and some bitter), the nutmeg promised in the nose, black pepper, wet newspaper pulp, and candied ginger. Mouthfeel is on the light side of medium bodied and just slightly grainy. Definitely one of the best Angel’s Envy products I have sampled. I wished it was a little older and a little higher proof but it’s…nice? Note that nice is far from wow. At a retail of $69.99, it’s more of a “glad I tried it” than a rebuy.

This marks my 300th evaluation. Sadly, the spirit falls short. This Triple Oak expression from Angel’s Envy is receiving favorable commentary online. However, upon observing it recently discounted to around $55 (list price is $79?), with numerous bottles displayed prominently at Total Wine, my suspicions were aroused. Nose: creamy vanilla, a gentle whisper of wood Palate: watery caramel, with minimal complexity Finish: fleeting, lacking significant warmth This is a delicate, unassertive bourbon. While I generally enjoy Angel's Envy, this particular offering failed to impress me.

Got a sample from a friend. In a Glencairn glass, rested 15 minutes. Medium-dark amber color. Smells of caramel, vanilla, and apple. Tastes of cinnamon, baking spice, and oak. Medium length finish with moderate heat. A few drops seem to nicely balance the spice and oak on the palate. Overall: 7.5/10 - Enjoyable bourbon that seems too delicate for mixing. The finish is quite nice for the lower proof, but at a higher proof this would be exceptional.

Nose is caramel, vanilla, sugar. Body has a hint of caramel and leather, but the oak dominates. There's something mild in there once you get past the oak with a few sips. Melon? Blueberry? Finish is gentle, with pepper, baking spices, and a bit of red apple. This is the least Angel’s Envy thing I’ve ever tasted. It’s almost more in the world of a Booker’s or Bardstown fusion, but it does retain that classic AE warmth.

This bottle is gone, and it's astonishing I've never written about it before. Incredible. Notes of caramel, anise, cherries dipped in chocolate, and a hint of vanilla from the oak. The mouthfeel is viscous with hints of clove and cinnamon. The alcohol content is well-managed. More anise appears on the lingering finish. The overall impression is full, smooth, and easily drinkable, yet still impactful. I will get another bottle. A score of 4.25 or higher.