Angel’s Envy Distillery, located in the heart of Louisville, became the first full-production distillery on the historic Whiskey Row when it opened its doors in 2016. Industry veteran, Lincoln Henderson, and his son Wes envisioned a distillery at the heart of Bourbon City focused entirely on experimental finishes, pushing the boundaries of what is possible with bourbon.
In October, I found myself in downtown Louisville and decided that a tour of Angel’s Envy was a must. National Guardian of Advocacy, Angel Teta, kindly showed me around the distillery and it is safe to say that I learned a lot on this fascinating tour. So, here are six things that I learned on my trip to Angel’s Envy Distillery. If you’d like to find out more why not book a trip yourself? You won’t regret it.
1. Angel’s Envy’s Recently Quadrupled Its Visitor Capacity
In June 2022, Angel’s Envy unveiled a huge expansion to its visitor experiences. Prior to the summer of 2022, the distillery welcomed 48,000 visitors per year through its doors. The expansion has seen this number more than quadruple, with the distillery now boasting a 200,000-person visitor capacity.
The expansion has not only increased the number of tours taken by whiskey fans, therefore increasing Angel’s Envy profits, but it has also enhanced the visitor experience. There are now added tasting rooms, a larger retail space, and even a beautiful events space that can be booked privately.
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The care and attention paid to the expansion is evident in the careful treatment of the building, a registered structure that was originally built in 1902.
2. Kentucky Sits On The Longest Cave System In The World
The Mammoth Cave System is the longest-known cave system in the world, spanning a staggering 426 miles underneath Kentucky.
This is primarily composed of layers of limestone deposited hundreds of millions of years ago, which have been shaped by water erosion over time. The limestone’s composition and the area’s geological activity have created the vast, intricate passages and chambers that make Mammoth Cave one of the most impressive karst landscapes in the world.
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Importantly for Angel’s Envy, the masses of limestone deposits in the local area mean that Louisville tap water is full of minerals and is incredibly soft, enhancing the mouthfeel of the bourbon.
Additionally, the stable pH level of limestone and mineral-rich water can help to maintain stable conditions during fermentation, in which keeping the yeast alive and active is vital.
So, when I asked Angel what Angel’s Envy uses as a water source, she proudly stated “Louisville tap water. It is some of the best water in the world.”
3. The Grains Used To Make Angel’s Envy Bourbon Are Meticulously Vetted
As Angel and I venture further into the distillery, we come across a side room that is filled with scientific equipment. Angel explains that this is the grain selection room, in which each batch of grain that is delivered to the distillery is carefully tested to ensure the highest quality.
These scientific tests include testing the grain’s moisture content, starch levels, protein composition, and potential contaminants such as pesticides. All of these things can impact the efficiency of fermentation and the final profile of the whiskey.
For example, if a grain’s moisture content is too high the grain could be at risk of mold. As such, the team at Angel’s Envy ensures that the corn, barley, and rye that they distill into bourbon has the optimum moisture levels, mitigating the risk of spoiling and making sure that long-term storage can be used if required.
Angel assures me that their grain suppliers are extremely reliable and that they have never had to send grains back due to contaminants. The grain testing room is a fascinating peek into an aspect of bourbon and whiskey making that is often overlooked.
4. Angel’s Envy Has A Flourishing Single Barrel Program
Back downstairs, Angel directs my attention to a collection of whiskey casks, each uniquely numbered and carefully stacked on pallets. She explains that these are part of Angel’s Envy’s highly sought-after Single Barrel Program, a rare opportunity for bourbon enthusiasts to claim their own bespoke barrel.
The Private Selection Single Barrel Experience offers an exclusive, immersive journey. It begins with a detailed distillery tour, leading guests through the intricacies of the craft before culminating in a private tasting session. Here, participants are presented with three distinct barrels, each at 110 proof. A knowledgeable host guides guests through each pour, highlighting specific flavor notes and helping guests to explore their palates and preferences.
Following the tasting, guests make their choice, and within six weeks, the chosen barrel is bottled onsite at Angel’s Envy Distillery, yielding a minimum of 250 bottles. Each bottle can feature a personalized message, making this collection a unique keepsake.
Launched in 2019 with just 40 barrels, the program has since expanded to meet demand, offering over 900 barrels this year. Depending on market factors, prices start around $20,000 per barrel.
5. Angel’s Envy Works With The World’s First Bourbon Certified Chocolatier
Of course, no distillery tour would be complete without tasting some of Angel’s Envy’s excellent bourbons. When Angel and I walk into the tasting room, there are six drams laid out, each accompanied by a small sweet pairing.
These pairings were masterfully created by Art Eatables, a confectionary company founded by Kelly Ramsey in 2011. The company’s first candy, The Small-batch Bourbon Truffle was developed with an equal focus on the confectionary and on the bourbon, ensuring that the truffle would pair flawlessly with bourbon. In fact, the shop was named the Best Candy Shop in KY by Food Network Magazine.
Art Eatables has since developed a number of delicious treats that pair fantastically well with various Angel’s Envy bourbons. These included a white chocolate bark containing whole barley grains that was beautiful and nutty.
My personal favorite was the Orange Chimère – a smooth, velvety, melt-in-your-mouth chocolate – paired with Angel’s Envy’s flagship Port Finish expression. The orange flavors in the chocolate beautifully amplified the notes of ripe fruit and Madeira in the bourbon. It was truly stunning.
On a completely unrelated note…if anybody knows how I can get these Orange Chimères in the UK, please let me know!
Kelly Ramsey’s Art Eatables feature prominently in Angel’s Envy’s tasting sessions, and the brand also works with other Louisville distilleries such as Rabbit Hole and Old Forester.
6. The Shop Is Currently Offering A Bottled-In-Bond Distillery Exclusive
Angel’s Envy is proudly the first bourbon whiskey brand that was founded to focus entirely on cask finishes. However, as the distillery said in a press release “There is a first time for everything.” As such, the Angel’s Envy shop is currently home to a Bottled-In-Bond distillery exclusive expression that has not undergone a cask finish, a first for the distillery.
The Angel’s Envy Bottled-In-Bond pays tribute to the Bottled-In-Bond Act of 1897, which was enacted to establish a federal benchmark for whiskey quality control during a time when producers were taking shortcuts to produce whiskey cheaply.
Distilled from Angel’s Envy’s custom mash bill of 72% corn, 18% rye, and 10% malted barley, the bourbon was barreled in the spring of 2018. Following maturation, the expression was vatted and blended by Master Distiller, Owen Martin, and bottled at 100 proof (50% ABV) without being diluted to strength.
With an age of 5 years and 8 months, the complex expression presents “lightly caramelized sugar, vanilla wafers, [and] banana pudding” on the nose. The palate is “sweet, rounded, and balanced, with notes of honey latte, fruit syrup, and toasted oak.”
Visit Angel’s Envy Distillery
A visit to Angel’s Envy Distillery was the perfect way to spend an afternoon in Louisville. The expansions to the visitor experiences, the retail space, the knowledgeable guides, and the unique tasting opportunities make this a great destination for any bourbon lover.
Be sure to book yourself a tour next time you are in Louisville, and grab yourself a Bottled-In-Bond bourbon on the way out!
A huge thanks to the team at Angel’s Envy, and Angel Teta, for having me.
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