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

Review: Eagle Rare 10 Year Bourbon

You'll have a hard time finding a better priced single-barrel whiskey with or without an age statement. The fact that Eagle Rare (produced by Buffalo trace) continues to offer a readily available single-barrel product with a 10-year age statement is pretty impressive. Unfortunately the bottle doesn't offer any information regarding which barrel or warehouse the product came from. So if you find a bottle you love and want to get as many as you can from that barrel or area of the warehouse you're out of luck.

Eagle Rare Single Barrel Bourbon - Tasting Notes

Eagle Rare Single Barrel Bourbon

Nose: A little sweet and musty. Initially a lot of smoke and leather but as it opens up there is a strong presence of orange that makes this quite enjoyable.

Palate: First sip comes across very sweet and oily, highlighting the orange on the palate. A couple more sips show some depth though - oak, leather, even a hint of pine. Many reviews call out cocoa or caramel but I am not getting much of this (could be barrel variation, could be my awful palate). I remember previous sips of this being very leather & smoke forward, so this pour has been quite a pleasant surprise and change of pace.

Finish: Fairly sweet and fruity, with light spice and oak underneath. The finish lingers for a good minute or two.

Proof: 90 (45% ABV)
Price: ~$30


Honestly, I was prepared to rank Eagle Rare in the high-7 to low-8 range based on previous pours. Not sure if my palate has changed or giving the bottle a bit of air has made a difference but I really found today's pour quite enjoyable. What previously seemed too heavy on oak and leather suddenly has a much better balance of flavors. As a result Eagle Rare might become a regular on the shelf if today's tasting proves to be the norm.

Eagle Rare 10 Year Bourbon Rating: 8.6/10

Review: Angel's Envy Rye

Angel's Envy Rye Whiskey

Angel's Envy Rye is a relatively new and somewhat limited offering. It comes to us from the Henderson family who launched the Angel's Envy brand. Similar to their bourbon offering, the AE Rye takes what would likely be a relatively standard whiskey and gives it a unique finish. In this case, they have taken a 6 year rye (95% rye, 5% malted barley) and finish it for up to 18 months in Caribbean rum casks. Their website can be found here and it offers a good amount of information on the product as well as the brand.

Angel's Envy Rye - Tasting Notes

Nose: If you didn't know this was finished in rum casks before, the nose leaves little doubt. Powerful maple syrup smell that is only amplified when the glass is empty. Looking a little deeper the nose offers some coconut and very faint hints of spice behind that.


Palate: Slightly sweet on entry but the 95% rye mashbill is what shines. The rum presence doesn't disappear, but it plays the role of the Miami Sound Machine to the rye's Gloria Estefan.

Finish: Slight spice, but not much burn. The cinnamon spice of the rye lingers while a slight presence of the rum finish returns. A relatively short, but enjoyable finish.

Proof: 100 (50% ABV)
Price: $70

I was first introduced to this at a whiskey tasting in Metro Detroit. My enjoyment of the pour quickly had a wet blanket thrown over it as I found out it isn't available in-state (which is a recurring theme in Michigan). Luckily I had a couple out-of-state trips around the corner where I was lucky enough to track down a bottle. Overall this a really tasty and unique sipper. I'd like to see the price come down a bit but the whiskey market prices don't appear to be slowing down any time soon. This one is definitely worth trying and is a great change of pace if you've got a sweet-tooth.

Angel's Envy Rye Rating: 8.7/10

Searching for the Best Sazerac in New Orleans' French Quarter

So originally I was going to write a recap of some cocktail bars in New Orleans. Having never been to NOLA before and being filled with ambition I thought this was an attainable task. The Big Easy quickly humbled me with its seemingly unending list of bars and since we were staying in the French Quarter I decided to narrow my scope. Since the Sazerac is the iconic cocktail of New Orleans, and the French Quarter was the entirety of NO when it was founded, I figured this was a good place to start. While this list is far from complete it was all I could squeeze in during my 2+ days in town. For anyone curious I've got some general info on the Sazerac at the bottom of this post. And with that... let's get to the rankings!

Kingfish - F

Let me start off by saying that Kingfish is an excellent restaurant. The food was delicious and the atmosphere was outstanding. With that in mind I was shocked by the poor quality of the drink. Maybe I caught them on an off night or maybe the bartender fudged the drink but I wasn't seated at the bar so I couldn't tell. The first sign of trouble was when I asked the waitress what type of rye was used in the drink and what was available. She told me she didn't know and came back with the underwhelming answer of Old Overholt and Bulleit. The drink came and I couldn't even finish it... I've never not finished a Sazerac before. This place probably deserves another shot, but it was by far the worst Sazerac I had while in the French Quarter and was thus given a failing grade.

Rotating bar at Carousel

Carousel Bar - C

The draw for this place is the rotating bar. Yes, the circle bar you sit at slowly rotates around the staff and bottles in the center. It's a pretty cool gimmick and a pretty cool looking bar. Their Sazerac appropriately uses Sazerac Rye. Unfortunately it was a little subpar. From a bar this nice I was expecting more.

Old Absinthe House - B

The name of this place does it justice... it's very "historic". Football helmets hanging from the ceiling and middle-aged women dancing to Pat Benetar were the snapshots I took away from my time there. The Sazerac was pretty good, though I wish the whiskey was a little more prominent. Using a low proof, low rye whiskey (Old Overholt) was probably the main culprit here.

Sazerac at St. Lawrence

St Lawrence - B

Popped into this cozy place towards the Mississippi River side of the Quarter for some small bites and of course, a Sazerac. The dirty rice and gumbo were great and this made for a perfect 3-o-clock in the afternoon stop. The cocktail here used High West Double Rye which was a first for me, but I was already a fan so sign me up. The drink itself was good enough to order again, but something was just a tad off on it. Not sure if it was light on bitters or syrup or Herbsaint but a minor tweak is probably all that was needed to bump this up a grade.

NOLA - A

Emeril's French Quarter restaurant was chosen by my lovely date as our Sunday night meal. I was ready to be let down by the food but it met and exceeded expectations. I hadn't planned on getting a cocktail here, but it was made with the Baby Saz and had a reasonable price so I went for it. I'm glad I did. Great balance of all the ingredients made for a winner.

Sazerac and another cocktail at Bar Tonique

Bar Tonique - A

My favorite bar in the French Quarter checks in at 2nd place. Look, the Sazerac was great and they made it with Sazerac Rye (as it should be). If you like a nice cocktail bar that is a healthy mix of solid whiskey and urban grit, this place is a winner. We popped in the first time on Saturday around 5p and got the last 2 seats in the place. It's crowded for a reason... great prices, great cocktails and an overachieving bartender (1 person serving about 25 in a pretty timely fashion). Sazerac gets an A, the bar gets an A+... will be my first stop the next time I'm in the French Quarter.

...and the winner! The Sazerac Cocktail at Sazerac Bar

Sazerac Bar - A+

Sometimes the #1 seed wins the tournament. Such was the case on my trip to New Orleans. I love an underdog story, but the bar who shares its name with the cocktail and is the home of it's genesis just wouldn't be denied. The birthplace of the Sazerac does it right - a perfect balance of all the components made for my best cocktail of the trip.

Some Brief Background on the Sazerac Cocktail

The Sazerac is one of the earliest known cocktails, pre-dating the Civil War and sometimes referred to as the oldest known American cocktail. It originally was a Cognac-based drink and got its name due to tthe use of Sazerac-de-Forge et Fils cognac. Now it is more commonly made with rye whiskey. In addition to the primary liquor it contains sugar or simple syrup, Peychaud bitters, a lemon peel and is serve in a chilled, absinthe-rinsed glass. Herbsaint is commonly substituted for absinthe, a trend which gained prominence when absinthe was banned in the US (1912-2007).

Review: Canadian Club Dock 57 Blackberry Whisky

Dock 57 Blackberry Whisky

So what am i doing reviewing CC Dock 57? Well I got this bottle a while ago as a mixer and it's been sitting on the shelf for about a year. According to the label this is a "brave new drink inspired by the historic shipping port where the first Canadian Club adventure began." I've never considered myself a brave man, but when faced with this "brave" drink I decided it was time to cast aside my cowardly shackles and man up. Here are my tastings notes...

Canadian Club Dock 57 Blackberry - Tasting Notes

Nose: very sweet and sugary, grape or blackberry jello, a faint hint of Canadian whiskey but you have to look for it

Palate: light, almost syrupy sweet and a little grain-forward. The flavors on the nose come through a little bit, but not as much as one would expect

Finish: some young alcohol & grain flavor show up at first, followed by light notes of the blackberry and grape which stick around for a while

Proof: 80 (40% ABV)
Price: $15

Look, this probably (or definitely) isn't intended to be a sipper. I bought it with the sole purpose of mixing with coke and getting a healthy buzz on during a tailgate (aka - bravery). Guess what... it worked!! Not only that, but it was a delicious combo that others seemed to enjoy. So if a "whatever" & coke is your poison, I'd highly recommend this bottle. But since this site is intended to review the sauce itself as a sipper, we're going to give out a not so flattering rating. It's just too sweet, syrupy and young tasting to have on its own... despite it being the bravest whisky I've ever tried.

Canadian Club Dock 57 Blackberry Rating: 5.5/10

The Best Downtown Las Vegas Cocktail Bars

I spent Labor Day weekend in Las Vegas and made sure to include a handful of cocktail bars as part of the trip. Personally, I prefer Downtown Las Vegas to the strip. There are more casinos in close proximity, it's easier to get in and out, and since I am far from a high-roller it's much more affordable. So with that in mind I wanted to scout some of the options away from the strip. Most of these are in the downtown area and within walking distance of any hotel on Fremont Street.

This trip was a little fuzzy, as Vegas has a tendency to do, so these reviews will focus more on the bars in general, rather than the cocktails that were ordered (as was done in my Minneapolis Cocktail Bars review)

Downtown Las Vegas Cocktail Bars

Mob Bar

The bar at Mob Bar

Mob Bar is located on 3rd Street, just north of the Fremont Street Experience. I first stumbled across this place a couple years ago and really enjoyed it. On more recent visits though, it's been less than overwhelming. They've got a fairly small cocktail menu and the service can be spotty if you aren't seated at the bar. While not my top choice, it's a stone's throw from Fremont and usually has open seating. My advice, grab a seat at the bar and enjoy some of the appetizers they offer.. the chicken parmesan sliders are absolutely phenomenal.

Bar + Bistro

About a mile south of Fremont is Bar + Bistro. This bar is in the arts district so you will see a lot of items inside that were crafted locally (liquor bottles as lampshades & glasses, street signs as tables, etc). You'll also likely be served by someone connected to the local art scene. The cocktail menu isn't huge, but has some good options for whatever type of liquor-based drink you want. This place has a pretty cool feel to it and plenty of whiskey on hand - they have three display cases showcasing all of the juice available. Add this to a solid food menu and decent service (it's been awesome a couple times, adequate a couple other, but never bad) and you've got a very solid bar.

Lady Silvia

The Lady Silvia

The Lady Silvia is just east of Bar + Bistro and located in a larger commercial building. The interior of this place is really unique. High ceilings and built-in bookcases along the walls, with an eclectic collection of furniture. This place felt like more of a spot for locals since the bartender quizzically asked us how we had heard about it. That aside, the drinks were good as was the service. Their liquor selection seemed a bit limited though so if you're looking for a pour of something specific you might be better off elsewhere. But if you want a decent cocktail in a really cool atmosphere this place is definitely worth checking out.

Laundry Room

A memento from The Laundry Room

Ok, I had a blend of excitement and trepidation headed into this one. The Laundry Room is located inside Commonwealth on Fremont Street East. Plus you can only get in with a reservation which is confirmed via texting a phone number not listed on their site (though it is shown on some popular review sites). The whole bar-within-a-bar and secret-text-reservations things came off as a little gimmicky, hence the trepidation. But the place had gotten some really solid reviews, hence the excitement.

Well push came to shove and we headed in for a couple rounds. I texted the magic number upon my arrival and we were taken back to the bar. They have seating for about 20-25 people and every drink is $15 - not cheap, but high-quality booze is used so it makes the price sting a little less. As for the drinks, they were outstanding. We planned on staying for 2 rounds and ended up having a third. Great drinks, great service, and delicious complimentary popcorn. I gotta say, this place lived up to the hype... a definite must-visit on my next trip to Vegas.

Herbs & Rye

Herbs & Rye steaks and sides
(sorry for the dark photo)

Herbs & Rye isn't located by Fremont but I'd seen some good things so wanted to check it out. It's a mile or two west of the strip on Sahara Avenue. The main draw for this stop was a happy hour that includes 50% off steak (plus your standard happy hour deals of cheap beer and well drinks). We ordered the filet and KC strip which were both really good. Additionally, the menu is filled with a healthy selection of cocktails. The drinks were tasty and priced reasonably at about $10 each. This place has more of a restaurant feel than cocktail bar, which is exactly what I'd recommend it for. Grab a few friends, get some steaks and a couple drinks before heading out on the town for the evening. 

Downtown Cocktail Room

The Lizard King at Downtown
Cocktail Room

The Downtown Cocktail Room is located on Fremont East and is a favorite of mine. Their bartenders know what they are doing and their cocktail menu changes every once in a while in case you want to mix things up. But that doesn't mean they can't make the classics - I had an outstanding Sazerac here on my first visit. It can get crowded on weekend nights, but during the week it's usually very low key and seating won't be an issue. This place has been outstanding every time I've stopped by and offers a great change-of-pace from the frantic atmosphere of Fremont.

So there you have it, my review of all the bars I was able to visit during my most recent trip to sin city. There are definitely some others I still want to get to, but those will have to be tackled on the next trip. Since this post is titled "The Best Downtown LV Cocktail Bars", I'd have to give the award to The Laundry Room and Downtown Cocktail Room. Keep in mind that the other bars likely don't consider themselves as solely a cocktail bar.  If you want a bite to eat I'd steer you towards Bar+Bistro or Herbs & Rye. And if you aren't quite looking for a meal, but don't really want a strict cocktail bar atmosphere Mob Bar and The Lady Silvia would be good options. These are all bars that I'm likely to visit again and they go to show that there are plenty of great non-casino options to fill your time in Las Vegas.

Review: Old Grand Dad Bonded & 114 Bourbon Whiskey

I'll be honest, I'd seen Old Grand Dad Bourbon on the shelf several times and never gave it a second look. The bright orange label led me to believe this was an old, cheap, tired bourbon. I couldn't have been more wrong. What caught my eye was their offering at 114 proof which is bottled quite differently than their lower proof offerings. OGD 114 has much more of a premium look to it, so apparently judging a book by it's cover was my thing. While I can't say I'm beyond this nasty habit, my experience with OGD has definitely helped to reduce my bottling prejudice.

The whiskey is named after Basil Hayden and was created by his grandson, Raymond - hence the Old Grand Dad name. It is currently offered at 3 proofs - 80, 100 and 114. The 80 proof version was 86, but in 2013 it was reduced. (I'm sure the people at Maker's Mark wish their change had gone as quietly as this one - though I'm guessing the bourbon community would gladly take an 80 proof Maker's if versions were also offered at 100 and 114 proof.) 

Today I'm covering the Bonded & 114 versions... I left out the 80 proof version because it wasn't all that good when I tried it at 86, so cutting the ABV probably didn't do it any favors.

Old Grand Dad Bonded - Tasting Notes

Old Grand Dad Bonded & Old Grand Dad 114

Nose: Vanilla, butter, caramel with just a hint of spice in the background. Really soft and pleasant, not overly powerful. This is something a first-time bourbon drinker might like.

Palate: Buttery, citrus-y, and silky on the entry with some mouth watering brown sugar sweetness as well. After a beat some of the spice notes show up.

Finish: Light vanilla and spice come and go quickly. Following this a light oak presence shows up.

Proof: 100 (50% ABV)
Price: $20

Old Grand Dad Bonded Rating: 7.9/10

Old Grand Dad 114 - Tasting Notes

Nose: All spice is prominent at first, then sweet corn and vanilla show up.

Palate: A thick mouthfeel that starts off very sweet. Strong caramel and brown sugar flavors eventually give way to a peppery spice.

Finish: A tiny bit of sweetness but spice, oak and mint are the key players in the third act which hangs around for a solid couple of minutes.

Proof: 114 (57% ABV)
Price: $23

Old Grand Dad 114 Rating: 8.7/10

Two solid bourbons here. OGD Bonded isn't overly complex so it graded a little lower as a result, but by no means is it a bad pour. Put it in front of me neat, on the rocks, or in a cocktail and you'll be met with a "thank you" and a smile every time. The Old Grand Dad 114 just takes it to another level though. A friend of mine tried it blind and said it was like there was a party in his mouth... the higher proof and prominent flavors make it hard for me to argue. This might just be my favorite bourbon under $25 and is definitely something I'd recommend as a top value. Turns out judging a bourbon by it's bottle might not be the best tactic...