Tasting Notes: Angel’s Envy Cask Strength 2019

This post sponsored by the Glencairn Whisky Glass

I have always liked the Angel’s Envy Cask Strength whiskey. It is finished in a port wine barrel and bottled at barrel proof, 122.4. It is interesting to me that this version has a little less of the port wine coming through, which makes me think that the barrel has been used to finish the standard Angel’s Envy once before. I like this. I do not want too much port wine flavor in my whiskey. I want it to complement the whiskey, not dominate it. I find the balance between whiskey and wine very good in this expression.

I believe this is still some of their sourced whiskey in the bottle. The distillery has been open for almost four years now and should have their own whiskey in the bottle in the next year or two. I suspect there will be a little flavor drift, but it will likely be for the better. I have visited the distillery and tasted their new make spirit and it is very good. What I am really hoping to see is a non-finished, straight Bourbon in one of their bottles. They have a very bright future with this new distillery. I think Lincoln Henderson set a high standard for their whiskey and Wes Henderson and family are doing a good job at keeping that standard high.

Angel’s Envy Cask Strength 2019

Proof: 122.4

Age: No Age Statement

Nose: Caramel, raisins, a little baking spice and sweet oak wood.

Taste: Raisins and grapes with vanilla, nutmeg and cinnamon spices and sweet oak wood. Very little bitter tannins. Tasted with a dried cranberry and it becomes very fruity with raisins and prunes. The vanilla is still there but the baking spices fade into the background. Tasted with a pecan and the fruit becomes a little more tart with cherries and dates and the spice becomes white pepper. The oak only comes through in the finish.

Finish: Long and dry with oak and cinnamon spice. The cranberry shortens the finish and makes it sweeter with a hint of fruit. The pecan makes the finish spicy with oak and pepper spice.

I am pairing this whiskey with a Nat Sherman Schrader cigar. The cigar was designed to pair with wine so I think it will go well with this whiskey. The smoke has a rich, sweet tobacco with hints of vanilla and chocolate and a little cedar spice. The whiskey brings out a hint of nuts – hazelnuts or English walnuts – it is hard to decide which, with creamy vanilla and dark chocolate. The smoke brings out the tart cherries and cinnamon in the whiskey. There is also a hint of lemon zest in the finish. This is an excellent pairing for an after-dinner smoke.