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!

BHO-CBD Oil Massage at Griffin Gate Spa

{Please note that this review makes no claims of medical expertise; as a longtime suffer of chronic pain, I’m simply detailing my experiences!}

I recently had the opportunity to visit The Spa at Griffin Gate for a special massage incorporating Bluegrass Hemp Oil, a CBD extract. While I knew that CBD products are gaining popularity across the country, I didn’t know much about the product until my spa day at Lexington’s Griffin Gate Marriott. I was so pleasantly surprised by what I learned.

Bluegrass Hemp Oil was developed by a Lexington-area couple who wanted to find a safe way to control their son’s seizure disorder. CBD, or cannabidiol, is one of over a hundred cannabinoids found in cannabis plants. This is not a psychoactive or intoxicating substance, and it is grown legally in Kentucky in the hemp plant. Many studies have shown that CBD oils and supplements have shown long-term improvement for pediatric treatment-resistant epilepsy and seizure disorders as well as anxiety, movement disorders, and pain.

I was certainly intrigued to learn more. I’ve been battling a pretty severe flareup of my cervical disk injury (hello, 10 hours a day at the computer or iPhone!) and TMJ, as well as a larger-than-usually degree of stress, and this seemed like an interesting way to test a Kentucky-produced product for my pain. I have to say, I was a little skeptical going in. but this was an incredible experience. The massage therapist soon allayed my fears — she was initially quite concerned about the level of inflammation visible around my damaged disk and we literally watched and felt that inflammation subside as she worked the CBD oil into my neck. Bob noted that he could see the difference later that evening, as well. There is some evidence pointing to cannabinoids as substitutes for typical anti-inflammatory drugs, and I am cautiously optimistic about using BHO’s CBD oil as a topical treatment for some of my joint inflammation, as I am restricted from taking aspirin and other NSAID drugs due to a stomach issue. I am so looking forward to another CBD oil massage from Griffin Gate to help me better control pain chronic pain!

Thank you so much to Bluegrass Hemp Oil and Griffin Gate for the amazing tool they’ve provided me on my journey toward pain-free living. I can’t recommend the oil or the massage services at Griffin Gate highly enough! Y’all, this is a game-changer!

{I was provided a complimentary massage in exchange for an honest assessment of the service and products used. No additional financial compensation was provided; all opinions are my own.}

What Would Dolly Do Tee

Y’all, Draper James redesigned the What Would Dolly Do? line, and it’s cuter than ever. Of course, I had to get the tee straight away, and the tote is on my wish list! I never miss an opportunity to tell the world how much I love Miss Dolly. (Click the photos below to shop the entire new collection!)

Shop the Dolly line and the rest of the Spring Collection with me at the Lexington Draper James store on Tuesday, February 26th from 6-8 pm and 15% of your purchase will graciously be donated to Dress for Success! I hope to see y’all there!

Old Forester Rye Whisky Review

{I was provided a press sample of Old Forester Rye in advance of release. All opinions are my own.}

I don’t know when I’ve so pumped about a whiskey release, y’all. When I heard about Old Forester’s new 100 proof Rye release, I was so, so excited. Old Forester Signature (100 Proof) is one of my all-time favorite bourbons, and I love what Master Distiller Chris Morris and Master Taster Jackie Zykan are doing to create new riffs on Brown-Forman’s flagship line.

I set up a tasting flight to sample the Rye, both for comparison and to take an opportunity to revisit two of my favorite Brown-Forman pours. Along with the Rye sample, I tasted Old Forester 100 and Woodford Reserve Rye. Both Rye expressions have a lower percentage of rye in their mash bill — 53% for the Woodford and 65% for the Forester — while many other brands use up to 90% rye in their rye whiskey. The Woodford Rye is one we reach for frequently at my house; Bob especially likes it to balance out the sweetness in Old-Fashioneds or Whiskey Sours.

Tasting Notes:

I started with the Old Forester Signature as a baseline. As I said earlier, I love this one as a sipper.

• Proof: 100

• Nose: initial notes of brown sugar and caramel, opening up to butterscotch and oak.

• Taste: apple & baking spice

• Finish: apple & clove

Y’all, I love this bourbon. It’s versatile in cocktails and wonderful as a sipper. It’s at a fabulous price point, and it plays such an important role in Louisville’s bourbon legacy. Everyone should have this on their bar.

I moved on to Woodford Reserve Rye to switch over from a bourbon mashbill to a rye. I know that opinions on this one are fairly divisive, but I’m a fan.

• Proof: 90.4

• Nose: initial notes of rye and black pepper; as it opens, there’s a fruity depth and a buttery warmth.

• Taste: spice, rye, & sorghum

• Finish: apple

Moving from the robust 100 proof of Forester bourbon to the Woodford Rye was certainly noticeable. The lower proof does allow the buttery depth of the whiskey to open up a little more. I love the way this whiskey inverts both bourbon and rye mash bills as a spicy riff on Woodford Reserve’s bourbon expression.

These two favorites set up some pretty stiff expectations for the Old Forester Rye. I was pretty happy to see that this big whiskey lived up to my big expectations.

• Proof: 100

• Nose: starts out spicy, reminiscent of those cinnamon red-hot candies, before opening up to a buttery depth and notes of banana bread

• Taste: rye grain, pear

• Finish: peppery with a hint of lemon

I tasted this new against two of my go-to whiskies, and it did not disappoint. It certainly brings that fruit note that is prevalent across the entire Brown-Forman portfolio. The higher proof and spicier rye note differentiates this from both its bourbon sibling and its Woodford cousin. At $23 for a 750 ml, you should definitely have this on hand for both sipping and mixing. I think it would make a really nuanced Manhattan.

Drink More Whiskey Tee available at The Bitter Southerner General Store.

Old Forester Rye certainly lived up to my expectations. It manages to be at once unique and familiar, complimenting the 150 year-old Old Forester line in a smart and thoughtful manner.

(Editorial note: I use the American “whiskey” with an e in everyday usage. Brown-Forman rocks the boat by labeling Old Forester products with the Scottish “whisky” moniker, while their Woodford Reserve line is “whiskey”.)

Brown-Forman Cooperage Tour and Coopers' Craft Tasting

Last Friday, I got THE BEST birthday present… from Brown-Forman!

I had the opportunity to visit Brown-Forman’s Cooperage, which I’ve wanted to see for so long! I was among a group of bourbon writers invited to tour the cooperage and sample the newest Brown-Forman bourbon expression, Coopers’ Craft Barrel Reserve. Brown-Forman is the only Kentucky bourbon company that crafts barrels in-house, and the Coopers’ Craft brand of bourbon pays homage to Brown-Forman’s coopers.

Barrel Head Pressing at Brown-Forman

The tour was amazing and so, so cool! We learned that the cooperage produces 300 barrels a day, at the rate of about 1 barrel per 45 seconds! Each barrel is made of approximately 29-33 oak staves, which are pieced together without any glue or nails — it’s simply the cooper’s skill with staves and hoops!

Barrel Assembly at Brown-Forman Cooperage

Every bourbon lover knows that a brief char on the inside surface of the barrel is responsible for so much of the color and flavor of the final distillate. What you might not know is that the smell of charred barrels is pretty heavenly!

Y’all, it was such a wonderful experience. We heard about some of the most loyal employees — a three-generation family of coopers (including a female cooper!) and a cooper who’s on the three-month countdown to his fifty year anniversary. It’s clear that safety, sustainability, and community are the utmost goals of the cooperage!

The cooperage is located next to the new Coopers’ Craft homestead experience. We were among the first to sample the second expression of the Coopers’ Craft line, Barrel Reserve.

While the original Coopers’ Craft bourbon is low proof (82.2), the barrel reserve is 100 proof. Barrel Reserve utilizes a unique, chiseled barrel which allows the bourbon to penetrate into the barrel more deeply . The result is a stronger, spicier expression than the original Coopers’ Craft.

Tasting notes for Coopers’ Craft Bourbon

You can find my Bourbon + Boweties bangle at Lawrenceburg’s Sweet Mash Goods.

After we tasted the original and barrel reserve expressions, we were treated to a boulevardier cocktail.

Best of all, we were joined in the tasting by Brown-Forman Master Distiller Chris Morris. It’s always a treat to talk with Mr. Morris. He’s so brilliant and funny and he knows literally everything about bourbon!

You can visit the Brown-Forman Cooperage and Coopers’ Craft Homestead exclusively through Mint Julep Experience tours.

HerKentucky x Louisville Stoneware Shop & Sip!

So, my birthday is this Friday. Every year, I ask the same favor of my social media friends. If you were planning to text, Facebook, call, or send a card, please take that time instead to clean out a closet and donate a gently used coat to a shelter of your choice. It’s always a cold, cold week, and I just love the idea that my friends and I are spreading some warmth to those who need it.

This year, my friends at Stoneware & Co. (formerly Louisville Stoneware) are helping me celebrate my birthday with a fun shopping event that benefits some of Louisville’s most vulnerable women and children. This Wednesday, January 16th, from 5-7pm, I’m hosting a Shop & Sip at Stoneware to benefit The Center for Women and Families. 15% of the night’s proceeds will benefit The Center for Women and Families which provides advocacy and support for individuals and families affected by intimate partner violence and sexual assault. We’ll offer a raffle and light refreshments, and will be collecting new and lightly used coats at the door.

I’m so excited about our raffle prize — it’s a wine cooler in Stoneware’s elegant Embossed Running Horse pattern! This gorgeous piece is a $75 value and also makes a very elegant vase for showstopping centerpieces. I love how it was styled at a recent charity event I attended!

Visit the event’s Facebook invitation for more information. If you can’t attend in person, Stoneware has graciously extended the opportunity for y’all to make phone orders during the event hours. Call the Stoneware showroom at 502-582-1900 Wednesday from 5-7 to place a local pickup or shipped order, and your purchase will benefit The Center for Women & Families!

I hope to see y’all there!

Gift Guide for Black Lab Lovers!

Lab Door Hanger, c/o ForPetesSake Potter

If you know Bob or me at all, then you know we’re fairly obsessed with our dogs. In our defense, they’re really great dogs. Well, most of the time. But they’re awfully cute.

A lot of folks love their Labs and Lab mixes as much as we do, so I found a few fun gift picks for the black Lab lover!

1. Classic Longsleeve Tee, The Black Dog. Bob and I both have tees from The Black Dog. They’re so soft and comfy, and just so fun!

2. Labrador Door Hanger, ForPetesSake Pottery. Y’all, I love this! It goes ahead and warns people that I’m a crazy dog lady before they even enter my home. ForPetesSake Pottery is run by the sweetest lady, Susan Brown, who just happens to be my neighbor here in St. Matthews.

3. (and 7) Labrador Bourbon Barrel Hanger, Drunkwood. Another great local present! Drunkwood’s owner, John King, makes the most gorgeous installations from used barrel heads. So, so fun!

4. Black Lab Cufflinks, Smathers & Branson. I feel like these need to be Bob’s Christmas present from Max, don’t y’all??

5. Black Lab Needlepoint Hat, Smathers & Branson. I have this in pink which, sadly, is a color they no longer offer. It’s perfect for taking Max and Soph for a walk!

6. Campfire Mug, The Black Dog. I mean, sooooo cute.

What’s your favorite dog breed? Do you