Lincoln Henderson is a whiskey legend. He worked for years at Brown-Forman on brands like Gentleman Jack, Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel, and Woodford Reserve. He was also an inaugural inductee into the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame. In 2004, Lincoln retired after 40 years at Brown-Forman. But he still had the itch that all greats do. So in 2006, he came out of retirement to work with his son Wes to create Angel’s Envy. Five years later in 2011, Angel’s Envy launched with great success which has continued with line expansions like the Rum Finished Rye Whiskey and Cask Strength Bourbon.
In 2013, their Lousiville operations opened and shortly thereafter Lincoln passed away at 75-years-old. Lincoln was a lover and student of bourbon, and you can taste that in everything Angel’s Envy does to this day. Their most recent experiment came with finishing bourbon in Japanese Mizunara Oak Cask.
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Table of Contents
Which Angel’s Envy Whiskey is better?
You may be asking, “Which Angel’s Envy Whiskey is better?” We’ve got you covered. Check out the comparison below:
Angel’s Envy Bourbon Finished in Port Casks
| AE Port Finished Bourbon | Details |
|---|---|
| In the Bottle | 87 Proof |
| ABV | 43.5% |
| Mashbill | 72% corn, 18% rye, and 10% malted barley |
| Age | 4 to 6-years-old |
| Style | Port Finished Bourbon 60-Gallon French Oak Port Casks from Portugal Finished for 3 to 6 Months |
| Size | 750 mL |
| Suggested MSRP | $50 |
| Distillery | Angel's Envy Distillery 500 E Main St. Louisville, KY 40202 |
| Pros | Fantastic Nose |
| Cons | Thin on the Palate |
| Availability | National Distribution |
| Rating | Silver 87 out of 100 Points |
| Inventory | Great to Pair with Cigar in Summer |
Angel’s Envy Bourbon is handcrafted in batches of 8 to 12 barrels and aged for up to 6 years. The bourbon then spends three to six months in 60-gallon ruby port barrels made from French oak. Angel’s Envy finished bourbon does not have much in the way of legs or glass coverage. This viscosity carries over to the palate.
Nose – 92 out of 100 Points
The nose is dried cranberries with just hints of light caramel and tart fresh apples. I’m enjoying the nose.
Taste – 85 out of 100 Points
Just subtle white pepper on the side palate. Cream of wheat drizzled with maple syrup with berries and raisins through the middle of the palate. Pair this with a bold cigar and the flavor start to pop and the spice and sweetness intensifies.
Finish – 86 out of 100 Points
It’s a short to medium finish with the sweet and spice intermingling through the finish.
Verdict –Silver 87 out of 100 Points
I enjoy Angel’s Envy paired with a bold cigar — that’s where it sings for me. It’s also great as a nightcap after drinking higher proof bourbons.
Angel’s Envy Rye Finished in Rum Casks
| AE Rum Finished Rye | Details |
|---|---|
| In the Bottle | 100 Proof |
| ABV | 50% |
| Mashbill | 95% rye and 5% malted barley |
| Age | 6 to 7-years-old |
| Style | Finished 18 months in Caribbean rum casks |
| Size | 750 mL |
| Suggested MSRP | $80 |
| Pros | Dessert Whiskey, Creamy, and Decadent |
| Cons | Nitpicking, maybe more spice to balance sweet |
| Availability | National Distribution |
| Rating | Gold 95 out of 100 Points |
| Inventory | Keep Stocked through Fall and Winter |
Angel’s Envy Rye Whiskey spends 18 months in rum casks to create a complex finished whiskey.
Nose – 96 out of 100 Points
This nose is decadent, sweet holiday desserts. It’s toffee, roasted marshmallows drizzled with caramel. Orange zest. Gingerbread cookies fresh out of the oven. Fresh grade A maple syrup.
Taste – 95 out of 100 Points
The palate offers rye, cinnamon, and nutmeg upfront. It won’t let you forget it’s a rye finished whiskey. But the sweet notes come to the party. Gingerbread cookies drizzled in caramel. The palate is
Finish – 95 out of 100 Points
It’s not an overpowering finish but it lingers. Gingerbread cookies drizzled with caramel and rye spice.
Verdict – Gold 95 out of 100 Points
This score is high and certainly, this finished whiskey won’t be for everyone’s palate because it’s sweet. But I couldn’t get enough of this during a holiday tasting. It was the perfect pour to finish the night off with right after dessert.
Angel’s Envy Bourbon Finished in Japanese Mizunara Oak Casks
Mizunara oak is rare and hard to work with. It tends to leak for one, grows in knots for another, and is best used for casks after growing 200 years. But with patience and expertise, it offers flavors of “sandalwood, coconut, spice and Japanese incense” (Wine Enthusiast). Angel’s Envy is finished for an additional two years to extract maximum flavor from the new charred Mizunara oak casks.
Full Review Coming Soon
Angel’s Envy Bourbon Cask Strength Finished in Port Casks
Full Review Coming Soon
Angel’s Envy Cellar Collection
Angel’s Envy Bourbon Finished in Madeira Casks (2021)
Full Review Coming Soon
Angel’s Envy Bourbon Finished in Tawny Port Wine Barrels (2020)
Full Review Coming Soon
Angel’s Envy Bourbon Finished in Oloroso Sherry Casks (2019)
Full Review Coming Soon
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Written by Matty Sims
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