Angel's Envy Binny's Private Selection Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon finished in Port Wine Barrels

VITALS:

- $90

- 109.8 Proof

- NAS

- Barrel No. 2012

- Kentucky

When Angel's Envy announced their single barrel program, I was excited. I've always been a fan of Angel's Envy. Whether it's your jam or not, they have certainly got Port barrel finishing down.  I guess that would be expected given it's their flagship product. But, this promised to be better, if for no other reason than the higher proof.

I could have researched this, I guess, but that's never really been my style. My understanding, though, is that these single barrels are not quite cask strength, but rather are being bottled between 105 and 115 proof. My guess is that's for two reasons--to not have these compete with the annual cask strength releases, and to allow them to price them at some point in between their standard offering and their limited offering. At $90 a bottle, that appears to be right where this landed.

The nose on this was great and everything I was expecting. I got black raspberry and currants. There was a bit of bright cherry, even with a touch of bitterness to it. It also had rich notes of milk chocolate and coffee that seemed to pair perfectly with the dark fruit notes, and it even had a little bit of cinnamon spice to it.

On my first pour, my immediate impression was that this was exactly what it claimed to be -- like regular Angel's Envy, just a bit amped up. It certainly carried more heat with it, but not nearly what I recalled from the Angel's Envy Cask Strength I had a few years back.  It was full bodied, though, with a nice viscous mouthfeel to it, far more than the regular version.

Of course I got all the dark fruit notes that I expected, including the currants and cherry I got on the nose. It also had a bit of a fig note to it as well. Those fruit notes tended to lean towards a wine quality, with a light amount of tannins coming through. On later pours I noticed a jammy sort of blackberry note that I really liked. I say "jammy" but it never got to be too sweet.

The base bourbon provided a decent amount of caramel to sort of underscore everything, and there was a vanilla note throughout as well that played perfectly with all the dark fruit notes. It finished with a black pepper spice mixed with fresh black cherry, as though I picked them right off the tree. This peppery cherry note was really my favorite part of the whole experience. I never would have put those two notes together, but here they were and it was delicious.

I loved the finish, and that seemed to really stand out as something very different from and better than standard Angel's Envy. Otherwise this was very much a beefed up version of Angel's Envy. That said, I liked it for that reason, and while $90 is a little steep, I'd probably grab another one if I were to stumble upon one.

Grade: B+

Angel's Envy 2016 Cask Strength Kentucky Straight Bourbon

VITALS:
- $180
- 124.6 Proof
- NAS
- Region: Kentucky

This is one of those bottles that I've been on the lookout for ever since I tried the regular Angel's Envy Bourbon, but I just never seemed to come across a bottle. The 2016 version, however, was more than available, albeit due in large part to the much higher price tag. Nonetheless, I parted ways with some hard-earned money for a chance to finally enjoy what I'd been after for years.

Of course, it required a special occasion before I popped the cork, so my neighbor, the one who recently moved away, and I enjoyed this bottle on the last day he was in town . . . and enjoy it we did. It was one of those mornings where I looked at the bottle, with only a few ounces remaining, and immediately realized why I felt the way I did.

What I enjoyed, at least those first couple pours and then the last few remnants months later, though, I REALLY enjoyed! This release is unique in that it's unfiltered. Accordingly, you can actually see the char from the barrels floating around in the bottle, even some relatively decent-sized chunks. I never noticed any of the char, however, as I drank it.

Rather, what I noticed is that this is an amped up and better version of Angel's Envy! It has a pungent nose, full of plum and cherry layered on top of sweet vanilla. There's also the slight scent of cloves on the nose. Of course, the expected port and alcohol burn are there, but they, by no means, detract from the complex and delicious nose that this bourbon otherwise offers.

On the palate I immediately notice the flavor of candied fruits, like dried and sweetened plum and cherry mixed with brown sugar. There's also a heavy dose of vanilla behind the dark fruits that really makes this a rich and delicious dessert-like pour!

It's very oily in texture and has surprisingly little burn. Don't get me wrong, the proof is high and this bourbon makes you notice, but rather than ethanol flavors taking over, it just has a nice, long, warm hug, even from the smallest sip. It's easy to drink and immediately coats the mouth with sweet, fruity flavors, but then leaves behind a cinnamon flavor in the back of the throat that seemingly never goes away.

The last pour from the bottle (which I decided to enjoy while I watched the season premier of Game of Thrones) was almost as if it were a slightly condensed version, or a reduction. It seemed to have thickened and was almost sticky and sweet. It almost reminded me of some of George R.R. Martin's descriptions of some of the wines in his books.  However, it never came across too sweet, perhaps due to the heavy amounts of vanilla and long, warming cinnamon spice that followed. 

I wish I didn't have to pay the price I did for this bottle. However, I was glad to have gotten to enjoy it, as I found this to be fantastic. As I would expect it to be, it was an amped up, better version of a product I already enjoy, and it met all expectations I might have had.

Grade: A

Angel's Envy Caribbean Rum Cask Finished Rye Whiskey

VITALS:
- $70
- 100 Proof
- NAS
- Kentucky

I've been trying to track down a bottle of this stuff for a couple years now. When I was first finding my way into bourbon, I really enjoyed Angel's Envy, and I was told that I had to try their rye. But now matter how often I looked, it simply wasn't anywhere. For years I've known I've wanted to try this one and, as far as I knew, it didn't even exist.

But, on my way back home from out of town one day, having some time to spare before I had to be anywhere, I made a few extra stops at whatever liquor stores I found on my way, and in the first one I visited, there they were, about ten bottles of the stuff, just sitting on the shelf like any other bottle. I had to look twice to make sure I was seeing what I saw. Perhaps it's just the area I live in or the stores I go to, but according to the clerk, it wasn't any special release, they just happened to get a batch in a few days prior. So, though the price is a bit steep at around $70, I didn't hesitate to grab a bottle.

When I opened the bottle, I was punched in the face by the cooked/caramelized sugar smell that filled the room. This is one of the most pungent whiskeys I've ever had in that respect. The nose had a little bit of spice behind it, a cinnamon sort of scent, but the burnt sugar smell was overwhelming. I knew instantly I had something on my hands that was completely different than anything I've had before.

I've had other whiskeys finished in rum casks before, like the Balvenie Caribbean Cask, but with this one, the rum casks had a far greater influence on the whiskey. While the typical vanilla and cinnamon spice came through, as would be expected from your typical rye, it was incredibly sweet, almost mouth-puckering-ly so. The caramelized sugar smell that seemed to explode out of the bottle upon opening had a flavor to match, which seemed to overwhelm every other flavor.

Behind that sugar, though, were still noticeable butterscotch notes, along with cereal or bread flavors that offered a little bit to soften the sugar rush on the back end. As I made my way through the bottle, the flavor evened out a bit, and it really took on a Butterfinger-type flavor, combining the sweet flavors of chocolate, butterscotch and brown sugar.

I was surprised at how much influence the rum casks had on this rye, as rye typically is a bold-flavored whiskey to begin with. At first I wasn't sold that I enjoyed it. However, that may have been more the shock at the sugary nature of this whiskey. I eventually found that behind that up-front sugar are some really enjoyable flavors that provide a nice complement, and this is a pretty complex finished rye with a lot to offer.

Grade: B-

Angel’s Envy Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

As a relatively new bourbon drinker, I felt that this was a must-try whiskey. While not necessarily hailed as an elite whiskey, still considered by many to be one of the best readily available bourbons out there. So, I grabbed a bottle and gave it a go.

One of the most vocal of the “many” was my brother-in-law, and almost immediately after my first sip, I sent him a text declaring this to be whiskey candy! I don’t mean that it’s super sweet to the point that it’s difficult to drink one glass at a time. I just mean that this is a sweeter bourbon, but with all the earthy, savory aspects of a good bourbon. It all comes together in a blend that really appealed to me.

Perhaps it’s the fact that this bourbon is finished in port barrels. This certainly added the sweet flavors of dark fruits like plum, along with that decadent but subtle wine flavor, which is a nice complement to the cinnamon and vanilla flavors inherent in the whiskey itself. In fact, it’s as though the port finish perfectly balanced the vanilla flavor, so as not to be too strong and overpowering or too sweet.

This whiskey is not too thin and not too syrupy. It does not sit heavy, though its flavor does linger, leaving one to enjoy the last sip yet hanker for the next.

From beginning to end, this bottle delivered consistency, richness and full-bodied flavor. This is the kind of bourbon I would want to have on hand at all times, a sure-fire quality bourbon that does not require any hunting.

Grade: A-