Editor’s Note: This whiskey was provided to us as a review sample by Angel’s Envy. This in no way, per our editorial policies, influenced the final outcome of this review.
It may not be a girl with a dragon tattoo, but rather a bourbon in a thin, tall curved bottle with an angel wing tattoo aptly named Angel’s Envy. Surprisingly, there hasn’t been a new release from the distillery since 2013. For now there is only 3,600 bottles floating around of the Angel’s Envy Oloroso Sherry Cask Finish.
Angel’s Envy is still a fairly young bourbon brand on the market, just shy a decade old, but it is making waves. For the current limited release, the distillery decided to forgo finishing its traditionally sourced bourbon in ex-port casks, and traded them in instead for ex-Oloroso sherry casks inspired by the Venenciador of Spain. All total you are looking at two to three years of finishing after an initial four to nine years in new American oak.
To buy this expression, you’ll have to go to Kentucky at the time of this review’s publishing and shell out $200. It is bottled at 100 proof.
Tasting Notes: Angel’s Envy Oloroso Sherry Cask Finish
Vital Stats: 50% ABV (100 proof); Kentucky straight bourbon made of 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley; aged four to nine years in new American oak barrels before being finished in ex-Oloroso sherry casks for another two to three; 750 mL is around $200.
Appearance: Deep mahogany with glints of copper.
Nose: The whiskey comes off a little high octane with loads of raisin. It seems to be a little on the dry side. I get just a touch of smoke reminds me of a roaring fire heating a cabin.
Palate: The mouthfeel is light and oily at first, but then it dries out in the finish. It tastes a tiny bit sweet and is very woody. Some bitterness follows a tanned leather taste. The whiskey comes of acidic, and it is almost as if you have to fight with it to get it to release more flavors. The raisin is not as bold as it is on the nose. I get a small hint of apple and pear.
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It has a really short finish, and I am disappointed none of the Oloroso lingers. The char is nice as there isn’t an overwhelming amount of smoke.