Review #491 - Angel's Envy Cask Strength Bourbon Finished in Port Wine Barrels (2020)
Angel's Envy is known for their finished whiskies, specifically a bourbon, which spends extra time aging in Port casks, as well as a sourced rye whisky, which is treated to rum cask finishing. They also have a few special releases each year - here's one from 2020, a cask strength version of their bourbon.
This bourbon is still finished in Port wine casks, though the finishing time for these special releases is generally a bit longer; despite the increased aging time, we still don't get an age statement on the bottle. This year's batch was bottled at 60.2% ABV (120.4 proof).
Angel's Envy Cask Strength Bourbon Finished in Port Wine Barrels (2020)
USA - Bourbon
Price: USD 275 (2025)
Age Statement: NAS
Strength: 60.2% ABV
Cask Makeup: Finished in Port wine casks
Details: Bottled 2020
Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 1 time; bottle 10% fill level at time of review. Tasted in a Glencairn glass, rested 10-15 minutes
Nose: Oaky and relatively dry - cinnamon, or even cinnamon rolls, brown sugar, and some mild black pepper start us off. Those are accented by more baking spices of clove and nutmeg; it's warm, even on the nose.
Palate: A thick mouthfeel - warming, full of orange, strong cinnamon, and drying oak. Clove and black pepper return from the nose, but we also get some vanilla; there's a syrupy note later in the palate, but it isn't overly sweet.
Finish: Medium length, and the heat from the strength continues. This is a very cohesive bourbon - similar notes to the nose and palate. More cinnamon rolls, decent oak though it grows less drying; a hint of wood smoke pops up at times, and we get a soft sweet sugar note in the aftertaste.
Final Note: This is a nice bourbon - baking spices dominate the flavor profile, and there is a strong oak presence, possibly hinting at a bit of age or a more aggressive maturation style. The level of complexity is moderate - a bit less than we hoped for this price point, but not too bad. Because of the strength, the texture is very good.
Value isn't very good, though. This special release commands a huge premium over their standard bourbon finished in Port casks: 5 to 7 times the price of the standard version, in fact. Because of that, there's more value to be found elsewhere, both in the cask strength bourbon and the finished bourbon categories.
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: 4.00
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:
Review #384 - Angel's Envy Single Barrel - Wiseguy Lounge Pick 'Vito Genovese'
