Angel's Envy Cellar Collection: Tawny Port Cask Finished Bourbon

In February 2020, Angel’s Envy will release the latest bourbon in their Cellar Collection: a 10 year-old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey finished for 10 months in tawny port casks. I recently had the opportunity to attend a press tasting for this limited edition release and can’t wait to share my tasting notes with y’all!

Since its founding in 2010, Angel’s Envy has become a cult-favorite craft whiskey label. The brand was founded when former Brown-Forman master distiller Lincoln Henderson came out of retirement to team with his son, Wesley, to distill bourbon which would then be finished in port barrels. Over the past decade, the senior Mr. Henderson has since passed, four of Wes’s sons have joined the Angel’s Envy team, and a stunning distillery and tasting area opened in Downtown Louisville. It’s always a delight to attend a tasting with Wes and his sons Kyle (AE’s Production Manager) and Andrew (Lead Distillery Operator). They are warm, funny, and so very passionate about their whiskey. I’ve had the opportunity to taste with the Hendersons several times now, and I look forward to the Hendersons’ high-energy, hilarious presentations almost as much as I do the whiskey itself. During this tasting event, Wes Henderson laughed that, while many of their ideas produce interesting, high-quality whiskeys, “there are a lot of dumbass ideas, too, that should probably never see the light of day.” While the Hendersons speak of one another with a mixture of good-natured ribbing, respect, and self-deprecation, the mood turns far more serious when speaking of the late family patriarch; Wes always takes a moment during a tasting to reflect on the goal of making bourbon that his dad would make his dad proud.

Andrew, Wes, and Kyle Henderson

As for the whiskey, the Tawny Port Cask finished release in the cellar collection is an interesting and complex offering. The Cellar Collection is an experimental line of limited edition, small batch whiskeys. The first in the series, Oloroso Sherry Cask Finish, was released in January 2019; however, these aren’t necessarily an annual release. Rather, says Kyle Henderson, the offerings will be released as they mature and are ready. Says Wes Henderson, “I never want to be on the innovation trail just to be innovating.”

The Tawny Port Cask release features a minor bottle redesign, including new gold lettering. The release of 5400 bottles at just under $250 will be available in KY, CA, FL, IL, NY and TN as well as at the distillery. The release is available for pre-purchase now.

We tasted the release alongside the flagship Angel’s Envy bourbon. It was immediately intriguing to see the color difference between the AE flagship bourbon — finished in ruby port casks — and the Cellar Collection expression. The new product had a far deeper amber color, a great indicator of a richer, more complex bourbon.

Tasting Notes:

Proof: 111.6

Nose: {AE provided tasting notes: dry fruit and oak}; my tasting notes: green apple and oak

Palate: {AE provided tasting notes: black pepper, toasted nuts, clove and delicate cinnamon spice}; my tasting notes: cinnamon, cloves, black pepper, golden syrup (treacle) or light molasses and dried apricot

Finish: {AE provided tasting notes: light and lingering, reminiscent of dried fruit dipped in dark chocolate); my tasting notes: rich and fruity, dried oranges dipped in wildflower honey

There’s a mellow warmth to this whiskey; it’s surprisingly delicate for such a high proof. I far prefer this one to last year’s Oloroso Sherry release. It’s definitely a great bourbon for fans of Angel’s Envy’s distinctive finishing style.

Thanks so much to Angel’s Envy for the invitation to taste this product. As always, all opinions are my own.

Angel's Envy Oloroso Sherry Cask Finish Bourbon Review

Last week, I attended a media preview and tasting of the latest release from Angel’s Envy: Oloroso Sherry Cask Finish Bourbon. Angel’s Envy is one of those small, family-owned whiskey labels that has a cult following — fans love the unique bourbon and rye whiskeys finished respectively in port wine or rum barrels to provide a gently altered flavor profile. The limited release Oloroso Sherry Cask Finish was a pretty big deal to bourbon geeks: it was the first new Angel’s Envy expression produced since 2013, and the first to be produced without the guidance of famed patriarch and Master Distiller Lincoln Henderson.

A mural at the entry of Angel’s Envy pays tribute to legendary distiller Lincoln Henderson

Lincoln Henderson was the Master Distiller for Brown-Forman for 40 years; he created the Woodford Reserve and Gentleman Jack expressions while at B-F. Lincoln retired in 2004, but by 2006 his son Wes persuaded him to come out of retirement work on a new, family-owned distillery project. The result was Angel’s Envy, a name paying humorous homage to the fabled “angels’ share”, the portion of the whiskey that evaporates in the warehouse each year. Mr. Henderson passed away in 2013 at the age of 75; Wes Henderson and his sons Kyle and Andrew continue to run the family business with an eye toward their patriarch’s vision.

Henderson Family Tree

Wes and Kyle Henderson sample new make.

After a quick tour of the distillery, Wes and sons Andrew and Kyle treated our media group to the first “outsiders’” taste of the new, limited edition bourbon expression, Angel’s Envy Oloroso Sherry Cask Finish.

Tasting Notes:

Proof: 100

Nose: Raisin and New Oak

Taste: Sherry, Raisin, and Hazelnut with a secondary toffee note.

Finish: Oak and Floral

This is a really unique expression. I LOVED the nose on this. It was this gorgeous raisin and oak scent that felt like a storybook holiday. The sherry definitely came through on the initial taste; we were told that Oloroso is a drier sherry, specifically chosen to keep the whiskey balanced and not overly sweet. I could see this making a really sophisticated and subtle Manhattan.

This is a very limited run of 3,600 bottles at $199 each. The whiskey will be available at the Angel’s Envy Distillery Store in downtown Louisville and distributed to a handful of Louisville area liquor stores. Public sales will begin on February 15th at 8 am; you can add your name to the VIP Access list by joining the Angel’s Envy 500 Main Club.

Bourbon & Boweties Bourbon Barrel Bangle available exclusively at Sweet Mash Goods.

After the tasting and lunch, we were treated to a cocktail class with Finishing Room Bar manager Mike Bohn. Mike was so knowledgeable about the history of cocktails and the best ways to coax flavors out of the whiskey. You can sign up here for your own cocktail class.

Thanks so much to Angel’s Envy for the opportunity to sample this new expression!

Angel's Envy #AE4THETREES

September is Bourbon Heritage Month. Here in Kentucky, we take our local spirits -- and the fascinating industry and culture that have grown up around them -- quite seriously. 

I was recently on a distillery tour and, as I listened to the guide describe the basics of bourbon-making -- the mash bill must be at least 51% corn, the product is stored in new, charred oak barrels for at least 4 years, etc., etc. -- I thought about how these facts are just something you learn by being a Kentuckian. Even if you don't choose to imbibe, you wind up knowing a little bit about bourbon.

If you do choose to imbibe (or if you're interested in job creation here in the Bluegrass State), then you have to admit that the past few years have been a fascinating time for Kentucky bourbon. New labels have been introduced at a dizzying pace, while some old favorites have reached a cultish following. An interesting label that has popped up in the past few years is Angel's Envy. This rye-based bourbon aged in ruby port casks is proud of doing things a little differently...

I love their cheeky ad campaigns, devoted to mixing it up a little.

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And, even more, I love Toast the Trees, the sustainability campaign they're undertaking this month. 

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Every time you post a photo to Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter with the hashtag #AE4THETREES, Angel's Envy and The Arbor Day Foundation will plant a white oak tree to replace a tree used for a bourbon barrel. What an awesome way to honor the distilling tradition while making a difference!

The next time you're out for a drink, order Angel's Envy and take a selfie that sustains future generations. Cheers!