Angel's Envy Private Selection Single Barrel Bourbon Finished in Port Wine Barrels

Total Wine and More pick from Gilbert, AZ. 101 proof. Nose brings cinnamon sugar, vanilla creme, apple, rye spice, sweet oak, and just a hint of the port finish coming in with some white grape. (I mean, port isn’t made from white grapes, but yeah) Lack of ethanol a nice plus at this proof point. Palate opens with the vanilla creme and apple from the nose, along with light caramel, pepper, and cinnamon. Pretty bright and brassy. If you dig deep, you can get a vinous flavor from the port but it’s very subdued. Flavors are punchy, but unrefined. No age statement and indeed tastes a little young. Finish is medium length and features cotton candy, cinnamon, and some astringent oak that really brings the experience down a notch. Mouthfeel is rather thin bodied, but also kind of fatty at the same time which I found to be slightly odd. This is no more than a slightly above average whiskey, although it’s nice to experience Angel’s Envy at a higher proof point. The problem is that at $100, this is more than double the cost of regular AE. Too many flaws and not a rich or complex enough experience for that kind of money. Nowhere near rebuy status.

ANGEL’S ENVY SINGLE BARREL-SOUTHPORT NC PICK PROOF: 110 GLASS: Glencairn COLOR: 1.6 Mahogany NOSE: Of course the Port is front and center, but there is a lot more here. Floral and Fruity (Green Apple, Grape, Pear), Dry Sandalwood, Dry Brown Sugar, Graham Cracker, and Fresh Orange Peel. Very good. NEAT: Bold, Spicy, and Oaky. Like the Nose, the Port is front and center with Heavy Cherry. Great Coating Mouthfeel yields Dark Chocolate Coated Raisins, Vanilla Bean, and Oak Tannins. Medium to Longish Finish with Musty Oak and Chocolate coating and layering the palate. Very good. SPLASH: A little water and this is a Fudge Brownie up front with Peppery Spice on the backend. It’s like a Moist Fudge Brownie dusted with Cayenne. Very good. VERDICT: Not sure I’ve officially reviewed the standard issue Angel’s Envy, but I don’t remember being that impressed. This is a totally different story. From the Bold Nose to the amazing mouthfeel to the chocolate finish, this was a unique pour. 4.5 STARS

Initial draw, you can smell the port wine within. Impressive aroma. First sip, molasses and butter, red wine, slight but hardly noticeable burn. Rough wheaty, maple syrup finish. I have to say, you cannot compare angles envy to any other bourbon. It’s has such a unique flavor profile and such a desireable complexity that it must be put in class of its own. If the distillers could somehow flatten out the slight bitter finish, it would surpass Pappy Van Winkle 12 year.

Barrel SB - 230792 A little hot, coming in at 110 Proof, but drinks like its higher. Once you get into it, you get some nice dried fruit and toffee at the end. Lots of toffee...the sweetness really lingers in the finish. Its a little bit tight, the tannins will let you know they're there, but let it linger and thats when it pays off. A drop of water is worthwhile.

Had a small taste of this local store pick from a friend's bottle. I believe was bottled at 106 or 108 proof. The port finish is perfect on this one. Not overdone at all, but gives the bourbon a nice background of jammy fruit. I don't care much for the regular bottling or even this brand at all, but this bottle was really tasty.

105.8 proof 52.9% ABV Aroma - massive brown sugar, burnt caramel, cherries and raisins. Slight hint of lumber… Really nice balance of port here. Taste- follows the nose with brown sugar. Nice balance of the port barrel. Slightly drying on the palate. Overall - I’m not usually big on port finishes, but this pretty nice