Angel's Envy Triple Oak

You know, every time I try something new from Angel's Envy; I'm not immediately blown away. Maybe it's because I was never really a fan of the port finish on the original bourbon. Always too heavy into the realm of red fruit for me, especially for a bourbon. But here I am trying yet another new release by Angel's Envy. This time, Triple Oak as a new member of their core line up. The nose on this selection seems delicious enough. Sweetened cream, vanilla and caramel create a sweet, viscous first impression on the nose. There's fruit by way of bakes apples and cherries, like pie filling. Diving deeper into the nose, you're greeted with a much more spicy and tannic profile including charred oak and baking spice. Begins innocently enough with milk chocolate, vanilla and caramel on the front of the taste. That chocolate takes on an almost chocolate covered roasted nut quality mid taste and then it really blossoms into something significantly more dry and spicy than I was expecting. Tannic oak, black peppercorn and cinnamon all take over the palate from 3/4 to the very back of the taste. This bourbon leaves your tongue a bit tingly from the spice. The finish is overrun with tannic oak, bittersweet dark chocolate powder and black peppercorns. I think as the newest of Angel's Envy's core offerings this one is probably the best of the bunch. But just a bit tannic and spicy for me to truly enjoy. Tastes are subjective but I like my bourbons somewhere on the line of sweet and cloying.

Nose is full of woody aromas; oak (duh), but also cedar and spruce. More subdued notes of caramel, vanilla, apple, and nutmeg. Ethanol non-existent. Palate much sweeter than the aroma would indicate with creme brûlée, powered sugar, a fruity date/fig note, cashew nut, citrus zest, and leather, all riding on an underbelly of soft, sweet oak. Not the richest or most complex, but what’s here is nicely presented. Shortish finish turns moderately tannic with more oak (some sweet and some bitter), the nutmeg promised in the nose, black pepper, wet newspaper pulp, and candied ginger. Mouthfeel is on the light side of medium bodied and just slightly grainy. Definitely one of the best Angel’s Envy products I have sampled. I wished it was a little older and a little higher proof but it’s…nice? Note that nice is far from wow. At a retail of $69.99, it’s more of a “glad I tried it” than a rebuy.

This is my 300th review. Unfortunately the whiskey is not that good. This Triple Oak variant from Angel’s Envy is getting good reviews online but when I saw it the other day on sale for about $55 (SRP is $79?) at Total Wine, with bottles filling an entire endcap by the door, I knew something was up. Nose: vanilla ice cream, a subtle hint of oak Taste: thin caramel, very little else Finish: short with very little bite This is a thin, low-flavor bourbon. I like Angel’s Envy overall but this did not impress me at all.

Received a sample from a friend. Glass: Glencairn, rested 15 minutes. Color: Medium-dark amber. Nose: Caramel, vanilla, apple. Palate: Cinnamon, baking spice, oak. Finish: Medium length with medium heat. Splash: A few drops seem to balance out the spice and oak in the palate nicely. Overall: 7.5/10 - This is enjoyable bourbon that seems too delicate to be a mixer. The finish is quite nice for the lower proof, but at a higher proof this would be a real banger.

Nose is caramel, vanilla, sugar. Body has a hint of caramel and leather, but the oak dominates. Theres something mild in there once you get past the oak with a few sips. Melon? Blueberry? Finish is gentle, with pepper, baking spices, and a bit of red apple. This is the least Angel’s Envish thing I’ve ever tasted. It’s almost more in the world of a Booker’s or Bardstown fusion, but it does retain that classic AE warmth.

I just finished off this bottle and can't believe that I've never reviewed it. Wow. Caramel, licorice, chocolate-covered cherries, some vanilla oak. Nice glycerin on the palate, with clove and cinnamon. Alcohol (46% ABV) in check. More cooling licorice on the finish. Overall effect is round, smooth, and goes down easy, yet still carries a punch. I'll be buying a replacement bottle. 4.25+ on the Distiller scale.