This particular bottle of Angels Envy bourbon is a blend that “was created from samples of 3 Angels Envy batches selected by Lincoln and blended to the specifications of Nasa Liquor.” If you’re not familiar with the Angels Envy brand here’s the 101.
Angels Envy bourbon is the creation of “retired” Woodford Reserve Master Distiller Lincoln Hendersen. He sources bourbon that’s been aged for 4-7 years from undisclosed Kentucky distilleries (one or many, who knows) and then finishes the bourbon in port pipes for an additional 3-6 months. The port finished whiskeys are then blended together and bottled in one of the most eye catching bottles on the shelf today.
Angels Envy bourbon Info
Region: Kentucky, USA
Blender: Lincoln Henderson
Bottled for: NASA Liquors
Blend: 28% A, 45% B, 27% C
Cask: New charred oak and port pipes
Age: NAS
ABV: 43.3%
Batch: SP15
Bottle: 102
Price: $45
Angels Envy bourbon Review
EYE
Butterscotch candy
NOSE
The first whiff is pure bourbon and wine. The second sniff is corn, malty sweetness, spice and candied citrus. Letting it sit and open for a bit reveals notes of cocoa, currant heavy dried fruit and a sweet dry SweeTARTS like note.
PALATE
Same story as above, the first sip is a blast of bourbon and grapy wine notes. The second coats the palate with rich corn, dried dark fruit, caramel, rye-like spice and vanilla taffy. After a few minutes lighter notes of wood, chocolate covered cherries and a light biscuity note appear.
FINISH
Corny heavy and accompanied by bold notes of dusty spice, grape fruit leather and a dusty spice that slowly fades out with an herbal hint.
BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
Nicely balanced, carrying a medium body and a silken texture.
OVERALL
I like this Nasa Liquors custom Angels Envy bourbon more than I have any other release of Angels Envy. Over the years I’ve had quite a few glasses of Angels Envy at bars and tastings and have always felt rather “meh” about it. There was never anything wrong with the whiskey, it just came across as a sweet lack luster bourbon that I could never rate above a B-. Which is exactly what I was expecting when I cracked this one open. I’m happy to be wrong.
The Nasa Liquors Angles Envy bourbon is a nice mix of port finished bourbons with the sweetness tamed a bit and I’ve enjoyed sipping it over that last two weeks. The guys at NL did a good job of picking their whiskeys for this bottle, but I have a sneaking suspicion that this is towards the top of the line, as far as my tastes go, for this brand. My major criticism remains that the sweetness hangs heavy and needs more of a woody or rye bite to fully balance it out. I hear great things about the Cask Strength releases, but as for this standard 86.6 proof release I’m not sure how much better it can get. Unless you like sweet bourbons that is, then Angels Envy would be gold for you.
SCORE: 86/100
