Angel’s Envy Bourbon Bottle Review (2023 Edition)

Last Updated on August 21, 2023 by Lydia Martin

Bourbons with double maturation, especially finished in port wine barrels, are huge in the whiskey market right now—and Angel’s Envy is taking one of the top spots.

Angel’s Envy made a suitable introduction to bourbons finished in port barrels. This brand paved the way for barrel-finished products to be recognized by whiskey drinkers.

But are these port-finish bourbons better than traditional bourbons? Let’s find out here in our Angel’s Envy bourbon review.

Overview of Angel’s Envy Port Cask Finish Bourbon 

Angel’s Envy Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey has a distinct expression of bourbon finished in port wine casks.

Its flagship name originated from the ‘Angel’s share.’ [1] A former Brown Forman master distiller and his sons—Lincoln Henderson and Wes Henderson founded it.

The bourbon’s additional finishing procedure in port wine cask creates a distinct flavor profile resulting in a unique sweetness and unprecedented smoothness.

Quick Facts 

What’s Angel’s Envy Port Cask Finish Bourbon? 

Angel’s Envy Port Cask Finish is a Kentucky straight bourbon that uses ruby port barrels in its second maturation. 

The port barrels are made from French oak, imported directly from Portugal, but produced in Angel’s Envy Distillery in Louisville, Kentucky. 

Angel’s Envy uses a traditional mash bill similar to Old Forester and Woodford Reserve. This handcrafted bourbon is blended in small batches and is bottled at 86.6-proof.

Tasting Notes 

Nose 

Angel’s Envy bourbon whiskey port finish starts with a light floral aroma, sweet ripe fruit notes, cherry, maple syrup, nuttiness, and creamy vanilla.

It has an inviting aroma with a hint of light oak and spices mingled with sweet syrup. But after swirling, there’s another layer of citrus hints, orange flavor, and mint on the nose.

Palate

This spirit has a sweet taste up front, and the vanilla and oak flavors you get from the nose continue in the palate with a hint of cinnamon.

Angel’s Envy has a medium mouth feel and sweet-forward notes. There’s a subtle taste and heat of rye and nuttiness, but it is not overpowering.

Finish

It has a medium finish that starts with heat and lingering charred oak notes, vanilla, and a bitter chocolate taste. The flavors are mingled well, creating a satisfying finish with fading spice.

Our Thoughts

First Sip

Angel’s Envy gives a clean and light texture as we savored it neatly in a Glencairn glass without dilution. It is oakier and has more heat of rye spice than we expected. 

The notes of vanilla and oak are present with more sweet notes from the port finish. At 86.6-proof, the rest of the sip is sweetly interesting, leaving us wanting more impact.

Second Chance

We tried adding drops of water for our second sip, which opened new layers of aroma. The flavors are unexpected and are not as sweet as the aroma.

“We only wanted [the] port to soften the overall bourbon character and not to drive the overall flavor”

Lincoln Henderson, Angel Envy’s Master Distiller

But the heat is lightly mellowed, allowing the fruity notes to take over our palate.

Why We Like It 

• It is flavorful and has present layers of sweet fruit notes.
• It has a smooth texture, making it an excellent sipping whiskey. 
• It is an ideal entry-level bottle for those new to bourbon whiskey.

Drawbacks

• It lacks sweetness from the port cask finish.
• The flavors are not as sweet as the aroma.
• It is not too complex and has a soft easy-feel profile (that rye whiskey lovers might not appreciate).

Uniqueness & Value 

Angel’s Envy is finished in port wine [2] cask and is beyond the usual bourbon drink. It is a well-made bourbon somewhat revolutionary from the traditional bourbon-making process.

Its finishing procedure adds layers of flavors, making it enjoyable to drink. At around $55, a bottle holds a delicious and sippable bourbon.

The Rating on Angel’s Envy Port Cask Finish Bourbon

We’re giving a 4-star rating for this drink. Angel’s Envy is a great start compared to other finished bourbons on the marketplace.

Its finishing process makes it more like a premium bourbon, although we expected more port influence from the bourbon and heat from its proof.

It could be a daily sipper, but for around $50, it is a mid-expensive price. 

Is Angel’s Envy Bourbon Worth It?

Yes, Angel’s Envy bourbon whiskey is worth it, especially if you’re new to bourbon. Compared with other bourbons/spirits, it has a smoother profile, making it approachable to the palate.

But if you’ve tried a bottle of Angel’s Envy, here are some great palatable bourbon from other brands:

• Rye & Sons Straight Rye Whiskey
• Breckenridge Port Cask
• Thomas S. Moore Port Cask
• Isaac Bowman Port Barrel Finished

FAQs 

Final Words 

If you haven’t tried and explored barrel-finished bourbons yet, Angel’s Envy bourbon whiskey is an ideal introductory whiskey. 

It is an award-winning spirit and deserves credit for being one of the originally finished bourbon whiskeys on the market. 

It isn’t the cheapest bourbon in the market within the same category, but it is worth buying for its price and taste profile. So, if you can find a bottle, grab it up.

References:

1. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/angel%27s%20share 
2. https://www.britannica.com/topic/port-wine