Many craft distilleries that came to life in the early 2010’s are marking their 10th anniversaries, and this weekend, the folks at Ironroot Republic Distilling… Read More
Many craft distilleries that came to life in the early 2010’s are marking their 10th anniversaries, and this weekend, the folks at Ironroot Republic Distilling in Denison, Texas celebrated their anniversary. The Likarish family founded Ironroot Republic after Robert Likarish decided that he didn’t want to practice law in his final year of law school, and his brother Jonathan gave up a career designing medical equipment to become Ironroot Republic’s head distiller and blender. We’ll talk with Jonathan Likarish on this week’s WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, Diageo opens a distillery in China, while an Indian distiller plans to open a distillery in Scotland.
Wes Henderson retired recently from Angel’s Envy, the whiskey brand he and his father, the late Lincoln Henderson created. Retirement didn’t suit Wes well, though,… Read More
Wes Henderson retired recently from Angel’s Envy, the whiskey brand he and his father, the late Lincoln Henderson created. Retirement didn’t suit Wes well, though, and he’s back in the Bourbon business with True Story’s finished Bourbon and Rye whiskies. He’s also building a $92 million distillery in Versailles, Kentucky and upgrading the nearby Kentucky Castle boutique hotel and event space to make it more Bourbon-focused. We’ll talk with the busy Wes Henderson on this week’s WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, a port strike on the U.S. East Coast is over, clearing the way for shipments of whisky from Europe. We’ll also have the trophy winners from this year’s International Wine & Spirits Competition.
Angel’s Envy already occupies the top end of many bourbon lovers lists and now they have added a new triple cask-finished version – Angel’s Envy Triple Oak – the first addition to the Angel’s Envy core lineup in more than a decade. Angel’s Envy Triple Oak contains bourbon aged between four and six years, finished […]
Angel’s Envy already occupies the top end of many bourbon lovers lists and now they have added a new triple cask-finished version – Angel’s Envy Triple Oak – the first addition to the Angel’s Envy core lineup in more than a decade.
Angel’s Envy Triple Oak contains bourbon aged between four and six years, finished in a combination of Hungarian oak [six months minimum], first-fill Chinkapin [six months minimum] and first-fill French oak [two months minimum] casks, before being bottled at 46% alcohol by volume [92 proof].
Angel’s Envy Triple Oak is being made available nationwide for $75 per bottle.
Caitlin Bartlemay of Oregon’s Hood River Distillers is one of the up-and-coming craft distillers on the American whiskey scene. She makes the whiskey widely regarded… Read More
Caitlin Bartlemay of Oregon’s Hood River Distillers is one of the up-and-coming craft distillers on the American whiskey scene. She makes the whiskey widely regarded as America’s first single malt whiskey, McCarthy’s, and joins us this week on WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, Edrington offloads The Famous Grouse, Campari takes a minority stake in three Scottish distilleries, and a new report highlights the problems craft distillers face in the current economic climate.
An event with the high powered hospitality forces of Lexington’s (KY) The Manchester and Angel’s Envy?! Talk about a match made in heaven. This is something you’ll definitely want to check out and partake. A long weekend escape in Bourbon Country is beckoning! The Manchester is a gorgeous hotel with a world class restaurant (Granddam) […]
An event with the high powered hospitality forces of Lexington’s (KY) The Manchester and Angel’s Envy?! Talk about a match made in heaven. This is something you’ll definitely want to check out and partake. A long weekend escape in Bourbon Country is beckoning!
The Manchester is a gorgeous hotel with a world class restaurant (Granddam) and rooftop bar (Lost Palm) nestled cozily just a few minutes from downtown Lexington. The property was recently selected in the “WORLD’S GREATEST PLACES 2024” by Time Inc. Angel’s Envy needs no introduction. The evening boasts the opportunity to learn and mingle with the sensory master minds Owen Martin (AE Master Distillery, Angel Teta (AE Global Head of Education, and how fitting is her first name, really??), and Granddam Chef Paula Endara.
Event Details
DATE: Thursday, Aug 8th, 7pm ET
LOCATION: Granddam (941 Manchester St, Lexington, KY 40508)
SPECIAL PRESENTERS: Granddam Chef Paula Endara/Angel’s Envy Master Distiller, Owen Martin/Angel’s Envy Global Head of Education, Angel Teta.
THE EXPERIENCE: Enjoy a welcome cocktail followed by a four course dinner. The first three courses will be paired with Angel’s Envy cocktails and the fourth course will be paired with a neat pour. The evening ends with a grand finale toast — something very special selected for this dinner. *Twenty-one & up. *Deadline to cancel is 48 hrs prior to event start time.
The Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame has announced its Class of 2024, including the recipient of the Parker Beam Lifetime Achievement Award. New Riff Distilling… Read More
The Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame has announced its Class of 2024, including the recipient of the Parker Beam Lifetime Achievement Award. New Riff Distilling founder Ken Lewis is this year’s honoree, not only for establishing New Riff ten years ago, but for his longtime ownership of The Party Source liquor megastore in Newport, Kentucky. Lewis was at the forefront of pushing for legislative changes to allow Sunday liquor sales in Kentucky, along with allowing credit card sales as well.
The inductees also include 93-year-old Elmer Lucille Allen, the first Black chemist at Brown-Forman and a trailblazer in the Bourbon industry, along with Angel’s Envy visitors center manager Dee Ford, Kentucky Peerless Distilling founder Corky Taylor, and the late Peter Loftin, the founder of the Bardstown Bourbon Company.
“Our signature Bourbon industry would not be what it is today without these distinguished honorees,” Kentucky Distillers Association president Eric Gregory said in the announcement. “Each put the industry before self, helping Kentucky cement its place in history as the international and undisputed home of Bourbon. And now we are honored to honor them. On behalf of our signature industry, we offer congratulations – and a heartfelt thank you – to these Bourbon heroes.”
The induction ceremony will be September 10 at The Legacy at Log Still Distillery, in conjunction with the Kentucky Bourbon Festival.
Bacardi-owned Angel’s Envy has some unfinished business – specifically, their newest release, a six-year-old cask strength Bottled-in-Bond bourbon that will be available exclusively at the Angel’s Envy distillery in Louisville, Kentucky. Angel’s Envy Cask Strength Bottled-in-Bond Act is bottled at 50% alcohol by volume [100 proof] – but only after some barrels were filled at […]
Bacardi-owned Angel’s Envy has some unfinished business – specifically, their newest release, a six-year-old cask strength Bottled-in-Bond bourbon that will be available exclusively at the Angel’s Envy distillery in Louisville, Kentucky.
Angel’s Envy Cask Strength Bottled-in-Bond Act is bottled at 50% alcohol by volume [100 proof] – but only after some barrels were filled at a lower entry-proof of 103 (51.5% ABV) during the maturation process in 2018 and then placed in a warehouse where the proof dropped, and 27 of these low-proof barrels were blended with two high-proof barrels from the same season.
Only 12,000 bottles of Angel’s Envy Cask Strength Bottled-in-Bond are being made available exclusively at the downtown Louisville distillery for $55 per 375ml bottle.
If you’re even semi-American whiskey savvy, you recognize the phrase in this bottle’s name: Cask Strength Bottled-In-Bond Bourbon. Well, it’s true: no water was added to achieve 100 proof; just the mingling of sub- and above-100-proof casks to attain that essential proof for BIB.
MASH BILL: Not disclosed, but likely 72% Corn | 18% Rye | 10% Malted Barley
AGE: Just shy of 6 years
YEAR: 2024
PROOF: 100 (50% AVB)
MSRP: $54.99
BUY ONLINE: This is an Angel's Envy distillery-only offering
STEVE'S NOTES
SHARE WITH: Any bourbon fan,, but especially with fans of bottled-in-bond whiskeys.
WORTH THE PRICE: Given that this is only a 375ml bottle and so many high-quality 750ml BIBs are much less expensive, it's not, based on that, an easy decision. If you commit to buying it, you'll not regret it, though.
BOTTLE, BAR OR BUST: Bottle if you're looking for a great souvenir from the distillery. Bar, if you're not rushing to spend $55 on a half bottle.
OVERALL: If you're even semi-American whiskey savvy, you recognize the phrase in this bottle's name: Cask Strength Bottled-In-Bond Bourbon. Well, it's true: no water was added to achieve 100 proof; just the mingling of sub- and above-100-proof casks to attain that essential proof for BIB. If you want to know how master distiller Owen Martin achieved that, read here. It's really interesting stuff.
Also of note is that 27 of the barrels in this batch were filled at 103 proof, which matches the industry's lowest barrel entry proof at Michael's. Again, see the link above for more info.
But to the whiskey ... . Aromas rise easily from the glass: toasted bread, cooked corn, peach pie, lemon chiffon and balanced oaky goodness. On the palate, you're reminded why 100 proof is such a sweet spot for bourbon lovers; it delivers a terrific balance of strength and subtlety. Here, stone fruit is first in line, followed closely by honey, caramel and fire-cured tobacco. The finish is long, warm and flavorful. It's a great whiskey all around, and which promises a long runway for Angel's Envy spirits that aren't cask finished.
Aged for nearly six years, the toasted gold color hue and complex flavor profile can be enjoyed neat or on the rocks at 100 proof (50% ABV).
Nose: Lightly caramelized sugars, vanilla wafers with a hint of banana pudding.
Palate: Sweet and balanced. Honey latte. Light fruit syrup and toasted oak
Finish: Rounded and soft. Gently fades, begging for a second sip.
Disclaimer: Bourbon & Banter received a sample of this product from the brand for review. We appreciate their willingness to allow us to review their products with no strings attached. Thank you.
It’s a very big day for Angel’s Envy. Fresh off the wire, the brand just announced they will soon release their FIRST EVER NON FINISHED WHISKEY. Why does this matter? Launched originally in 2014 by the legendary Lincoln Henderson and his son Wes (and their family), they are the house built on finishing. That is […]
It’s a very big day for Angel’s Envy. Fresh off the wire, the brand just announced they will soon release their FIRST EVER NON FINISHED WHISKEY. Why does this matter?
Launched originally in 2014 by the legendary Lincoln Henderson and his son Wes (and their family), they are the house built on finishing. That is their DNA. Their bread ‘n butter. Not a spin off or side hustle limited edition. Their flagship from day 1 has been port finished Bourbon. They have been at the absolute forefront of finished whiskeys and doing a dang good job at it.
They will soon unveil their inaugural Cask Strength Bottled in Bond Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. The genuine article Bourbon with no finishing influence.
Quick Facts
AGE: Nearly 6 years.
PROOF: 100 proof (50% abv)
MASHBILL: 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley
RELEASE DATE: Friday, June 14th
AVAILABLITY: Distillery ONLY (Louisville, KY)
PRICE: $54.99 for 375ml
VOLUME: 12,000 Bottles
BOTTLED IN BOND
CASK STRENGTH
NO WATER ADDED
INTERESTING FACTOR: CASK STRENGTH – This new release unites the historic Bottled in Bond distinction with modern cask strength boldness through a lower barrel entry proof and meticulous blending by Master Distiller Owen Martin, artfully achieving exactly 100 proof. To me, a big X factor here is being bottled-in-bond at cask strength. I’m not sure there is another label out there that can claim this. And building on that, the absurdly low cask strength proof at 100. This means the liquid went into the barrel at a very low proof (no water added) which is a sign of high quality commitment in itself. Very normal in the industry to have liquid come off the still approaching the limit of 125 proof and into the barrel. This tactic reduces the number of barrels in inventory, which lowers production cost. Water can then be added before bottling to a lower proof. Water however is not the enemy, quite the opposite as those sugars lingering in the wood are more soluble in water vs alcohol. Extracting those sugars help provide those yummy vanilla and caramel notes.
What’s important here to realize, the whiskey wasn’t pulled from the barrel and diluted down to 100 proof. You’re getting the genuine article of liquid purity. For a brand that has been built on barrel finishing, this is pretty cool and certainly an extra step of higher quality implementation.
“In spring 2018, the team started with a lower barrel entry proof of 103 and placed our barrels in a cool, humid warehouse. Instead of withdrawing them at 100 proof, we let them mature further to prioritize flavor. We drew the barrels at 98-99 proof and blended 27 low-proof barrels with two high-proof barrels from the same season to reach exactly 100 proof, creating Cask Strength Bottled in Bond,” said Master Distiller Owen Martin. As the brand’s first-ever unfinished whiskey, ANGEL’S ENVY® is excited to continue its legacy of demonstrating how it can take a heritage-rich category and view it through a different lens to share truly unique whiskies.
Angel’s Envy Master Distiller Owen Martin. Photo credit: Robert Jacob Lerma
TASTING NOTES (Brand Provided): Aged for nearly six years, the ANGEL’S ENVY® Cask Strength Bottled in Bond has a toasted gold appearance and comes in at 100 proof (50% ABV). The final bourbon presents lightly caramelized sugars and vanilla wafers on the nose with a hint of banana pudding while sweet and balanced on the palate with notes of honey latte, light fruit syrup, and toasted oak. Fading gently, the finish is rounded and soft.
ANGEL’S ENVY® Cask Strength Bottled in Bond will be available in 375ml bottles, with only 12,000 bottles available in this distillery series release. The bourbon will be priced at $54.99 and is only available for purchase at the ANGEL’S ENVY® Distillery, which is located at 500 E Main St, Louisville, KY 40202.
What’s different between what I do now versus what I did at Stranahan’s was operating mostly as a blender and finding complementary finishing casks. I really enjoyed that, but to come here was an opportunity to do that on a bigger playground.
Nearly two years ago, Owen Martin accepted the master distiller’s job at Louisville Distilling Co., home to Angel’s Envy Bourbon. In multiple conversations with him, he’s made clear that moving to Kentucky was “stepping up to the big leagues” of American distilling. In his six years making American single malt at Stranahan’s Whiskey Distillery in Denver, he learned a lot about blending and cask finishing, skills beneficial for the job in Louisville.
He'd been told the camaraderie among Kentucky distilleries was strong, but he said it’s exceeded all expectations. What’s also impressed him is the access to a wide range of high-quality, affordable finishing casks available through Bacardi, owner of Angel’s Envy. He views these casks as levers to create a variety of new and unique finished cask releases for the brand that started that trend in bourbon.
Following are his words about working in Kentucky and how Angel’s Envy’s first non-finished release, a Bottled-In-Bond, was created.
