Angel's Envy Cask Strength Review

Angel's Envy Cask Strength (Merry Christmas!)

This year's Angel's Envy Cask Strength distribution was limited to 1,500 bottles according to the official Angel's Envy site. This version of the bourbon has had plenty of praise heaped upon it, so when I happened to be in a store on the day it arrived, I figured it was worth the gamble (albeit an expensive gamble $150 + tax). I was a bit hesitant to give this a go considering I'm not a huge fan of their standard bourbon offering, but the Angel's Envy Rye made me give this brand another look. It comes in one of the coolest packages I have seen for a whiskey under $200... this was both enticing and discouraging. Enticing because the wood casing is decidedly impressive and discouraging because I'm typically wary of overly-elaborate packaging (I'd prefer to buy the steak, not the sizzle). No more rambling... on to the notes.

Angel's Envy Cask Strength 2013 - Tasting Notes

Angel's Envy Cask Strength descriptions,
tasting notes, and an invitation to a
special event accompany the bottle.
A very nice presentation

Nose: Initially sweet with some vanilla and alcohol from the high proof. Give it a minute and this guy settles in. The Port finish is present as there is a presence of sweet, red wine with toffee and chocolate. Some good complexity here as I'm also picking up spice and very faint wood. After revisiting I even get a hint of red licorice (think Twizzlers strawberry twists). Let this one sit for a bit and you'll be rewarded.

Palate: Chocolate, vanilla, and sweet candy (something I can't quite put my finger on, but in a good way) come in at the front, followed by a noticeable presence of oak. A little bit of burn, but not as much as you'd expect from something over 120 proof.

Finish: Plenty of heat and spice on the finish, though a little water will help tame the heat if it's not your thing. The spicy heat lingers for a good 60 seconds and is followed by some of the port and sweet flavors from the nose and palate.

Proof: 123 (61.5% ABV)
Price: $150


Well, mixed emotions here. On the surface the tasting notes above make for a great pour, but the price point is much more difficult to swallow. I have trouble spending this much on any bottle in general and while I think it's very good, I likely wouldn't buy it again at this price. The casing is pretty cool, but I'm buying the steak for how it tastes, not the plate it's served on. However, if the pricing was around $100 I might pull the trigger annually and I likely would have graded this in the low 9s, rather than mid-8s. With all of that being said, if you are a fan of their bourbon, you should give the Angel's Envy Cask Strength a try as I found it much more enjoyable than the standard offering.

Angel's Envy Cask Strength Rating: 8.4/10