Angel’s Envy Bourbon Review

Updated July 3, 2014

By Richard Thomas

Average Rating: A-

Angel's Envy Bourbon Whiskey

(Credit: Angel’s Envy)

The moment I heard of Angel’s Envy I wanted to get my hands on a bottle and try it, because on paper the bourbon is my life story in a bottle. I’m a born and bred Bluegrass boy, and during my teenaged years on the farm, I enjoyed the vapors blowing in from Wild Turkey and Buffalo Trace. Decades later I married and moved to Portugal, a change that spurred my interest in other forms of whiskey, but also Port wine.

That is where Angel’s Envy represents an intersection in my lifelines, so to speak. The brainchild of Woodford Reserve’s retired master distiller, Lincoln Hendersen, Angel’s Envy is bourbon finished in old Port barrels. The idea of secondary maturation, or “finishing” as it is more commonly referred to, is a relative newcomer to bourbon. Woodford Reserve, Hooker’s House and some other companies have experimented with the idea of putting their bourbon into used barrels, a practice long associated with scotch-making. Angel’s Envy is something like Louisville shaking hands with Porto in a bottle, and this whiskey represents the first time portwood  has been used to finish bourbon.

So, you can see why I was eager to acquire some Angel’s Envy, and let me tell you, my family and I went to no small amount of trouble to get that bottle to my doorstep. Frankly, I don’t think I’ve ever been as curious about what waited for me under the stopper of a new, unknown bottle of whiskey.

Angel’s Envy starts with its grain and water, and because the corn and rye are drawn from local farms, both are infused with the mineral richness of Kentucky limestone. After distillation, the new whiskey goes into charred American oak barrels for aging, just like any other bourbon. For the most part, the barrels are stored in the upper racks of the warehouse, which much like the typical attic, is the hottest part of the building. This placement is part of why the bourbon is called “Angel’s Envy,” since “cooking” the bourbon in the hottest part of the warehouse increases the rate of evaporation, and thus the “angel’s share.”

Primary aging lasts for a minimum of four years, with five to seven years reported as fairly typical. When ready, the bourbon is then transferred to those Port barrels picked by Hendersen, for a finishing of three to six months. As a small batch, Angel’s Envy is a blended bourbon. The whiskey is then bottled at 86.6 proof (43.3% alcohol). Despite the aging period, the bottle bears no aging statement.

The Bourbon
The Angel’s Envy bottle is an artsy, slightly ovoid thing, with winged etching on the back and a wood-and-cork stopper. Once in the glass, the bourbon has a middling, coppery amber color.

The nose shows the corn and wood off well, carrying a sweet scent strong with maple and vanilla. There is a little red fruitiness in the nose as well, something I believe must come from the Port barrels.

The flavor is light, with the mild wood and tart spiciness standing at the forefront, and that maple and vanilla sweetness just behind. That hint of a red fruit note from the nose remains in the background, but is strong enough to add to the complexity of the bourbon. If I had to make a guess, the Port casks used to finish the bourbon must be mostly ruby and young tawny, since older tawny tends to be leathery and not particularly fruity. The finish is dry, mellow, a little spicy and a little fruity, but not especially long.

Angel’s Envy is certainly an interesting creation, and by far the best example I’ve had yet of a bourbon borrowing the predominately scotch practice of finishing in used barrels. Furthermore, I think bourbon and Port are a better match than scotch and Port, and as a resident of Portugal, it’s rewarding to see those barrels go to My Old Kentucky Home and find such a useful second life.

Addendum by S.D. Peters

I was mildly disappointed by Angel’s Envy’s exclusive and limited Rye expression, which I found to be a bit like a soul in Purgatory: doing the right thing to get to the next level, almost there, but not quite. Angel’s Envy Kentucky Straight Bourbon, on other hand, is well inside the gates of Paradise. Imagine yourself on a lawn chair, relaxing in a sun-dappled meadow. A bowl of cherries, currants, and a several slices of Bartlett pear on the table beside you, are balmy and inviting. This expression invites a leisurely country siesta, with a taste of Fuji apple, honey, and Bartlett pear warmed by 46.3% ABV (86.6 Proof). The smooth, medium finish coaxes you from the meadow to the edge of a nearby wood, where you linger among the oak and pear that dominate the afterglow.

Addendum by Diana Karou Cheang

While perusing some liquor store aisle on a recent Friday night, the name “Angel’s Envy” caught my eye, bring up the term “Angel’s Share” as it does. Bourbon is typically not my “thing,” but I wanted something more than the consistency and safety of a single-malt whisky, and I was not disappointed with the smoothness and honesty of my bottle.

The color of the bourbon is a bit flat, uncharacteristically gold for a bourbon, but with appreciative dips of copper. The nose is open, just a touch sweet, swirling with hints of chocolate, vanilla, and a floral tulip imparting an intimate sillage. Not a lot of complex notes here, but it leaves one with an impression of darker flavors even though the rest is light and playful. Characteristic of an unremarkable strength, it did not play with the nose at all, and only warmed the nasal passage. At this point, I lifted an eyebrow imagining that it might be this easy-going all throughout.

Before the thought is finished, the palate chases the tongue with a smooth, easy-going consistency and respectfully backs off the inner cheeks: It’s not going to do more than just hold my waist. Though a plain ol’ mixture of sweet and bitter comes forth, it’s still a bit fun with spice on the tip of the tongue that slides and holds fast in the rear.  It has the characteristic taste of a bourbon, but the port wine is starting to pull up in the rear. Fully coating the tongue will taste cherry and fruit, and almost to the finish, a cautious richness imparted notes of coffee. I ended up taking a few more sips than usual, day dreaming about a caramel chew. It’s not like it’s very sweet, but it does stick like candy to the tongue.

With a capful of distilled water the nose pulled up molasses and more sweetness. The palate changed drastically to fit a blueberry pancake, imparting creaminess and fruit, going to all-sweet without the sass. The jokes have stopped with that full bourbon taste, but it imparts the wine barrel more fully. Even the caramel chew becomes realistically sweet.The spiciness warms only in the back of the tongue now, making it even more mellow. If you’ve ever had a great cup of coffee, freshly ground and brewed with a French-press, you’ll notice that it’s just the tiny bit sour; same here.

Angel’s Envy is like a friend, welcoming and easy-going. It’s a bourbon that can be teased out of the shyness, if it is slightly diluted. It reminds me of sitting down and enjoying a glass of wine in sediment. As bourbons go, I was happy that my expectation of risk was utterly unfounded.

The Price
Angel’s Envy is supposed to go for about $45, give or take local taxes. You might find an internet retailer who has marked it down to $40, but that probably doesn’t include shipping and handling.

Awards
Angel’s Envy hasn’t been around long enough to rack up any medals yet, but it has met with rave reviews in the press. GAYOT named it a top spirit for 2011, Wine Enthusiast gave it a score of 98, and Maxim labeled it the Best Newcomer for its “8 Best Bourbons in America”.

29 comments

  1. How much did they have to spend to buy these glowing reviews? Angles Envy is dog $@&! Ive never met anyone that’s enjoyed it or bought a second bottle

    • With an attitude like that, my guess is you don’t know that many people in the first place.

    • Absolutely agree.

    • I am an avid Basil Hayden enthusiast….I don’t do well with makers mark, and knob creek seems less than special…while visiting relatives in Boca , I was disappointed that the golf club didn’t carry Basil Hayden….the staff offered me the usual suspects and Angels Envy….I took them up on the offer and enjoyed 2 on the rocks….I thought it was excellent ,smooth , and tasty ,so it will now become a regular in my rotation….I am by no means any type of expert but I know what I like immediately….a home run in my eyes!!!

    • agreed. totally disappointing. thin characterless bourbon with some supposed finishing trickery. absolute ripoff at $45. I got 4 bottles for 15.50 each on closeout at lucky’s which seems a totally appropriate price.

    • Totally agree. Too smooth, really- lacks any real character and basically tastes like an average Irish whiskey. In which there is nothing wrong with that but totally wrong taste profile for bourbon. Just sort of… well, blah.

      Would never buy again it or ever recommend it…. Grossly overpriced- but that is irrelevant, as i wouldn’t like it at any price.

    • I agree. Very lackluster with hints of Coleman stove fuel.

  2. This certainly is not a flavorful, complex or sweet tasting bourbon. I’d put it a tad above Pendleton. If you’ve had Pendleton, you now what I’m talking about. -Basically tastes like how medicine grade rubbing alcohol smells. Pretty terrible, and especially disgraceful at it’s price point. I cannot recommend – it is pushed pack in the cabinet for even the desperate times of mixing drinks.

    • Pendleton doesn’t make Bourbon. They make whiskey, a Canadian a Rye and a blend. I didnt like
      Angels Envy much either, but make the right comp’s.

  3. I don’t what Joe thinks bourbon should taste like- maybe someone should tell him not to mix it with diet coke! I find angel’s envy smooth, with just a little burn, round on the palate, the rough edges smoothed off by the port barrels. It finishes a little like a highland scotch. Those that I drink with and respect all keep a bottle up and one in reserve. Perfect for drinking neat.

  4. I’ve been drinking Bourbon for many years, trying lots of different brands. I can honestly say this ranks in the top 4 or 5 bourbons I’ve ever had. It’s delightful.
    James Grimes and Joe M are entitled to their opinion, but they are quite wrong.

  5. I found Angel’s envy to be a pretty decent pour. Smoother than a lot of bourbons. It is probably somewhere between 4th to 7th on my list of favorite bourbons. I would have to refresh my tasting as well as blind taste it against my favorites to be sure. My favorites are Blanton’s, Wellers, Four roses.. So that should give you an idea what I like and how I rank Angel’s envy.

  6. The bourbon is good and ranks up there with four roses,blantons,basilet Hayden, Woodford.

    The rye is superb. Best old fashioned ever with the rye..

    • This is one of my favorite bourbons. Very smooth, love the flavor profile. Can’t wait to try the Angel’s Envy Rye.

  7. I have bought multiple bottles on Angels Envy bourbon. I love it. I also recommend it to family. I drink it neat and it has an amazing flavor profile in my opinion.

  8. I have been drinking bourbon for for 55 years. They include Bookers, Bakers, Woffords ,Basel Hayden, Blantons, Buffalo Trace, Pappy Van Winkle, and all of those mentioned in the above critiques. What a person likes best is a matter of personal taste, but for my money my favorite is Angel ‘s Envey.

  9. Really…$48 for this compared to $100+ to Pappy Van…$25 for a jig…I’d take this.

  10. I have only recently entered the bourbon realm. Am drinking Angel’s Envy as I write this. I quite enjoy Woodford Reserve and Eagle 12 year single barrel and this is quite enjoyable on the rocks.

    Now I must try four roses as I keep reading about it everywhere! But, this is quite nice!

  11. Liked it and preferred the finish to that of other bourbons. Ordered this at an airport with a delayed flight. Bartender poured me a triple and it was comped. Point being that I finished this is a few minutes. It’s smooth yet I didn’t catch a heavy buzz off it. I won’t buy a bottle but it was a really good bourbon. Sticking with Bookers.

  12. Just opened a bottle of angels envy.

    I would think that this is one of the better bourbon at around USD40!

    Nose: first smell of alcohol with heavy influence of port! Not sure if this whisky is perfumed but it got a very nice floral smell. After awhile I can get ‘artificial’ strawberry smell like the one in kids toothpaste!

    Taste: first thing, you really can get the strong alcohol taste! It’s not as spicy as some young scotch whisky while it’s more rounded, smoother. Afterward it change, fruit notes especially fresh Fuji apples and cranberries, some honey and some vanilla. Normally I get fresh citrus but this! Fresh Fuji apple sensation~

    Aftertaste is medium and sweet~

    This is a complex bourbon and I strongly believe that after more oxidization it will become better.

  13. Tried Angel’s Envy in Louisville at their tasting experience. Decent bourbon, but I’m not ready to give it any accolades. Good? Sure, but I’d argue it is one of the more overrated bourbons on the market. That doesn’t mean it sucks, but I could enjoy a number of $30 or less bourbons, much more. Should be on a worst value list.

  14. I came from a signal malt scotch. I’ve had my share of good and bad scotch. My son got me into bourbon. With bourbon I’ve gone through the same as I did with my scotch. I’ve had some good ones and bad. I’ve also went back to buying another bottle, because it had a taste to enjoy some more. And I will back and buy another one. With this one I will truly have to admit I like it. I won’t go out tomorrow and buy one, but some other time I will. Aging in port barrels gives it a welcoming enjoyment. I hope they don’t change on the way they make it You’re asking me have I given up on scotch? No I haven’t. I still my favorites including peaty ones. To those who don’t like this bourbon, Give me your email address and I’ll be more than happy to take it off your hands.

  15. I was born in Louisville and brought up on the many different makers in KY. Maybe some just like one taste and that is it. I have ground up loving many of the whiskeys that are in tbe state. I enjoyed Angels Envy. Would i only buy just that one brand – no. But having several to fit the mood i am in makes life all the better. Glad to see dome of the old distillers reopen. I grew up near Bardstown and glad to be adding them into my collection. Angels Envy may not be the best ever but some days it is.

  16. William Skillman

    Angels Envy is one of my all time favorites along with Blanton’s. Try taking a medium sized muffin pan and make a hockey puck cube. The bourbon does not water down as fast and allows one to enjoy the unique character of each bourbon.
    However, I have a bottle of 10 year Pappy I dip into every Christmas Eve, nothing comes close!

  17. Stopped by June 16 at the dist. bought 3 Qt. of houch. Good stuff. All the yuppie types that give a discript of the various spices used in pumpkin pie and afford them to this great Kentucky booze, are, well they should be drinking BOSCO with skim milk….Leave this to a real women and real men.

  18. I have over 50 bottles of Bourbon in my library, all the well knowns and a few off the wall like Weller’s and Black Maple Hill as examples. For the novices it’s Crown Royal Black and Rye, good for the price and easy to obtain anywhere, although I also have 5 other Crown Royal products (none with flavoring). For the intermediate drinker, we can do one of the 5 Woodford’s or the three Bullets on the bookcase. I save the Angels Envy Straight and Rye for the master drinker. Why waste great Bourbon on untrained palates? Basil’s and Blanton’s are good when on the road, I just haven’t found a bar that stocks Angels. Just my humble opinion, as long as you truly enjoy your Bourbon, you are enjoying life!

  19. Have been a bit disappointed with the Envy. Nothing very unique flavor wise about this Bourbon. Its taste like many others . I would not be surprised if this was an MGP product.

    • If I recall correctly, the rye is MGP. However, most folks in the know believe the bourbon was at least originally sourced from Brown-Forman, where Lincoln Henderson worked for a long time.

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