Angel's Envy

Happy Whiskey Wednesday.

Today I've got a real special treat with me, and as the photo tells, I've had a bit more than a drink of it over the past few months. Angel's Envy is a very special bourbon, more particularly a Kentucky Straight (think the likes of Jack, Turkey, and Beam - classics), most notably that it isn't "technically" a Bourbon. This gorgeous whiskey is taken from the barrels of Lincoln Henderson, a legend in the whiskey world for having his hand in many classics, notably Woodford Reserve among others. The man had a dream that marketing and financing wouldn't allow - exploring just how far whiskey can be tinkered and experimented with. His ideas were put of by the higher ups for fear of flops, so He and his son went off to start their own brand, sourcing from one of the many great Kentucky distilleries. However, after the whiskey is aged in new oak barrels for a typical 3-4 years, they are then siphoned and poured back into barrels, this time it's not just new oak barrels, it's used Port wine barrels.

This gives the whiskey an incredibly unique and satisfying journey; the nose is an opulent medley of dark cherry, star anise, licorice, and brown sugar; the palette, an even more drool-worthy vesche, brings on that same cherry, but it brings a stringent bite with it. Don't let that fool you though, despite the claws this still gives a very velvet, leathery taste, with brown sugar and honey. The finish brings up the heat with cinnamon and grapes, warms and rounds out, leaving you with an apple aftertaste; All in all very reminiscent of the barrel it's aged in, with tart sugars and sweet roundness.

For a bourbon that has only been around since 2010, Angels Envy already has it's name inscribed in stone, a lovely opus of fruits and warm burn, something you could slooshy days on end, and - if I had it my way - a daily drinker for sure. Coming in at around $50 retail, it's not cheap, but it's not expensive; That is, unless you live in Utah.

Unfortunately, our benevolent benefactors in their big fancy white castle in the heart of Downtown SLC have designated that the Angel's Envy is only suited for those of sinners faith, and have refused to allow the DABC to stock big brother's liquor store with the juice. Consequently, you'll have to go out of state for this one, and not just "other side of Wyoming lotto gas station" out-of-state, oh no. This will only be found in Liquor Marts deep in the North, South, or East. Your best bet would likely be heading out to Wendover and praying that the Angels didn't take their share from Lee's Discount.

I would absolutely recommend you pick up a bottle if you ever find one, as Angel's Envy is in my opinion, a Patron Saint of Whisk(e)y.