Review #384 - Angel's Envy Single Barrel - Wiseguy Lounge Pick 'Vito Genovese'
Wiseguy Lounge Barrel Pick Series: Part 16 of 20
Angel's Envy focuses on finished whiskies as a brand portfolio; there's now a wide array of finishes in their history, including rum casks, cider casks, Mizunara oak, sherry casks, and others. Perhaps the whisky they're known most for, however, is their standard bourbon release, which they finish in Port wine barrels. This sweet fortified wine tends to add red fruit and chocolate notes to a whisky.
In recent times, this port-finished bourbon has become more available as a single barrel selection. There's one major upgrade that we get with the private barrels: the strength, which is normally a relatively low 43.3% ABV (86.6 proof) on the standard release, is bumped up to 55% ABV (110 proof). There's no age statement on the bottle, but on the website, the distillery explains that the bourbon is aged for 4 to 6 years, with the addition of 6 months for Port cask finishing.
This single barrel pick, chosen by the Wiseguy Lounge, is named 'Vito Genovese' after the infamous Italian-born American Mafioso. Genovese, born in the late 1800s, would rise to the rank of boss in the Luciano crime family, which would later be renamed to the Genovese crime family - one of the 'Five Families' which dominated the American mob scene, especially in New York.
Angel's Envy Single Barrel - Wiseguy Lounge Pick 'Vito Genovese'
USA - Bourbon
Price: USD 90 (2024)
Age Statement: NAS
Strength: 55% ABV
Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 1 time; bottle at 50% fill level at time of review. Tasted in a nosing glass, rested 10-15 minutes
Nose: The nose is mild - a bit closed up, subdued. There is some orange fruit, and then some dark, sweet notes - dark brown baking sugar, a bit of oak. With time, the oak becomes a bit more leathery.
Palate: The mouthfeel has a medium thickness - there's a nice soft, syrupy texture. The first flavor that comes to mind is coffee, which adds some acidity that cuts through the sweeter fruit side. Orange sherbet and maple syrup add that sweet side, and soft dark oak lingers in the background. On later sips, there's a bit of alcohol and more subtle bitterness.
Finish: Orange and cinnamon dominate at first - almost cinnamon red hot candies. Still generally sweet, with a nice cozy feeling, although hints of wood smoke and leather add a mature side. In the aftertaste, there's a vague savory flavor.
Final Note: This is an interesting barrel pick - we liked the increased strength from the standard Angel's Envy Port-finished bourbon, it's definitely a step up from that. The stronger coffee notes in the palate were a unique addition, though the bitterness that it brought, paired with the oak, became a bit strong later on, bordering on astringent. Lots of reddish-orange fruit, as you might expect with a wine finished bourbon; overall, a solid whisky, but not exceptional.
Value isn't quite as good - these Angel's Envy single barrel picks aren't cheap, often coming in around the $90 price point. If you're a fan of the brand or of wine-finished bourbons, this could be an interesting bottle to buy and try; there are better values to be found at the price, though.
Our Average Rating: 6.5 / 10
In the current whisky landscape of increasing prices and variable quality, we've added a value rating to our reviews that relates to the score and the available pricing of each whisky. This roughly equates to a 0-10 scale; no reviews so far have exceeded a score of 10, although it is technically possible for the formula to produce a value rating higher than 10 with a high enough score and low enough price.
Value Rating: 5.80
About Us: We're a husband and wife review team living in the Midwest United States. Generally, our reviews and tasting notes will be a compilation of both of our experiences with a whisky over several tasting sessions.
Check out our other Angel’s Envy reviews:
