This Fortnight in Whiskey S03E05 – WftA News

This Fortnight in Whiskey S03E05 – WftA News

WftA HEADLINE NEWS LINKS FOR S03E05_24Aug01

Rye Isn’t All That Spicy, Experts Say
Coomes, S. (2024, June 24). Rye Isn’t All That Spicy, Experts Say. Bourbon & Banter. https://www.bourbonbanter.com/ (Retrieved 2024, June 24).

Cocktails To-Go, Reduced Ready-to-Drink Cocktail Tax and Holiday Spirits Sales Signed Into North Carolina Law
DISCUS. (2024, July 09). Cocktails To-Go, Reduced Ready-to-Drink Cocktail Tax and Holiday Spirits Sales Signed Into North Carolina Law. Distilled Spirits Council of the United States. https://www.distilledspirits.org/ (Retrieved 2024, July 09).

Pennsylvania Bill Backs Spirit-Based RTDs
Carruthers, N. (2024 July 16). Pennsylvania bill backs spirit-based RTDs. The Spirits Business. https://magazine.thespiritsbusiness.com/ (Retrieved 2024 July 16).

Ontario Accelerates RTD Expansion Plan
Carruthers, N. (2024, July 16). Ontario accelerates RTD expansion plan. The Spirits Business. https://www.thespiritsbusiness.com/ (Retrieved 2024, July 16).

Angel’s Envy Is Dropping Its First Bourbon Without a Cask Finish
Flicker, J. (2024, June 10). Angel’s Envy Is Dropping Its First Bourbon Without a Cask Finish. The Robb Report. https://robbreport.com/ (Retrieved 2024, June 10).

Jim Beam Reimagines its Black Label
Simmons, T. (2024, June 19). Jim Beam reimagines its Black label. The Spirits Business. https://www.thespiritsbusiness.com/ (Retrieved 2024, June 19).

Knob Creek® Blends the Best of Knob Creek® Bourbon and Rye
Press Release. (2024, July 17). Knob Creek® Bourbon Rye Blends the Best of Knob Creek® Bourbon and Rye. Suntory Global Spirits. https://www.suntoryglobalspirits.com/ (Retrieved 2024, July 17).

Knob Creek Unveils 10 Year Rye Whiskey
Kossowsky, M. (2024, Jun 07). Knob Creek Unveils 10 Year Rye Whiskey. WhiskeyPulse. https://www.whiskeypulse.com/ (Retrieved 2024, Jun 10).

This new Maker’s Mark bourbon comes from the heart and is ‘a pure delight’
Hancock, A. (2024, June 17). This new Maker’s Mark bourbon comes from the heart and is s pure delight. Courier-Journal. https://www.courier-journal.com/ (Retrieved 2024, June 22).

Buffalo Trace Just Dropped a New Barrel-Proof Rye Whiskey for Its Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. Line
Flicker, J. (2024, June 28). Buffalo Trace Just Dropped a New Barrel-Proof Rye Whiskey for Its Colonel EH Taylor Jr Line. The Robb Report. https://robbreport.com/ (Retrieved June 29).

DISTILLERIES IN THE NEWS

Whiskey House of Kentucky Begins Production
Simmons, T. (2024, July 04). Whiskey House of Kentucky begins production. The Spirits Business. https://www.thespiritsbusiness.com/ (Retrieved 2024, July 04).

WHISKEY ECONOMICS

Where Will The Whiskey Market Rollercoaster Stop?
Littler, M. (2024, June 13). Where Will The Whiskey Market Rollercoaster Stop? Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/ (Retrieved 2024, June 17).

Normalisation not expected until 2025/26 for spirits in US
Simmons, T. (2024, June 27). Normalisation not expected until 2025/26 for spirits in US. The Spirits Business. https://www.thespiritsbusiness.com/ (Retrieved 2024, June 27).

NEW PRODUCT RELEASES

Old Forester Dropped a New Batch of Its Most Coveted Single-Barrel Bourbon
Jonah Flicker, J. (2024, June 14). Old Forester Dropped a New Batch of Its Most Coveted Single-Barrel Bourbon. Robb Report. https://robbreport.com/ (Retrieved 2024, June 18).

Old Forester Introduces The 117 Series: Rum Finish
Garrett, P. (2024, July 10). Old Forester Introduces The 117 Series: Rum Finish. Bourbon and Banter. https://www.bourbonbanter.com/ (Retrieved 2024, July 11).

WHISKEY INSIGHTS

Is This Bourbon’s Next Billion-Dollar Idea?
Bowers, B. (2024, June 26).  Is This Bourbon’s Next Billion-Dollar Idea. Gear Patrol. https://www.gearpatrol.com/ (Retrieved 2024, June 26).

REVISIT PAST STORIES

Jared Himstedt: On The State Of American Single Malt Whiskey
Micallef, J. (2024, June 13), Jared Himstedt: On The State Of American Single Malt Whiskey. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/ (Retrieved 2024, June 16).

This Fortnight in Whiskey S03E05

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Angel’s Envy Whiskey Review

Hannah’s Angel’s Envy Whiskey Review

Batch 70 Z; Bottle #4110

Original review written January 25, 2020

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

I’ve been quite excited to try this, but I come away a little disappointed with this slightly bitter offering. I’m hoping my disappointment is limited to this batch and bottle, and that our other purchased bottle will be an improvement. Read my full Angel’s Envy Whiskey Review for Batch 70 Z here! 82/100

VITALS:
Angel's Envy Whiskey Review

– Made In: Louisville, Kentucky, USA
– Distiller: Angel’s Envy Distillery
– Classification: Special port barrel finish Kentucky Whiskey
– Age: nas
– Mash Bill: Corn=72%; Rye=18%; Malted Barley=10%
– Casks: Char #3
– Special Finish: Finished in port barrels, then hand-blended in batches of 8-12 barrels at a time*
– Barrel Entry Proof: 125
– ABV: 43.3% (96.6 proof)
– Price: $46.95 USD in Idaho

*Visit angelsenvy.com for more information

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

I enjoyed the whiskey neat from a Glencairn with father and fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer, Brian.

Check out his review for this whiskey here!

SETTING:

The air is a bitter cold with wind and snowflakes swirling around you as you run to take cover in a snow-dusted, red barn. The color of the structure alone is enough to pressure your legs and feet to a faster and more urgent pace, the promise of warmth and shelter looming ahead.

Photo by James Ahlberg on Unsplash

NOSE:

There is a mix of black pepper, brown sugar, and also barrel char that is the most obvious on the initial inhales. It makes for a spicy feel overall, with leather and the wine/port element keeping the undertones very rich and earthy. The wine/port also adds a subtle bit of sweetness, along with baked blackberries.

Deep inhales flaunt the alcohol, but it’s quite gentle – not to be confused with the aforementioned spiciness and newfound allspice. In the same deep inhales, there’s a nutty flavor that comes forward, like buttered pecans perhaps. Aside from the sweet, yet spicy, barrel char, specific wood is unrecognizable.

PALATE:
Angel's Envy Whiskey Review

– Mouth Feel: A little watery, but still quite soft. Not the worst I’ve had, but not the best either.
– Balance: It seems a little confused – wanting to be sweet, but it’s also bitter.
– Visual: A hazy/smoky auburn in color, there is a broken crown of droplets and legs, but there are mostly clinging droplets.

– Taste: Wine grapes come forward on the first sip, but there’s a smoky or perhaps dusty rye that reminds me that this is still a whiskey at the end of the day. There are raisins here too, keeping with the grape theme.

The nut from the nose seems to be more like hazelnuts, as there is a bitterness that is coupled with the sweetness of the grapes. I can’t decide whether I like it or not.

There’s maybe a toffee here too, but it’s also on the bitter side, as though something got burned in the cooking process.

Some cherries and rye peek out with a Kentucky chew, but the overall taste still seems slightly bitter in nature. It isn’t awful, or even bad, but knowing that there are less bitter offerings at this same price point is something I can’t help but consider.

FINISH:

– Lasting Power: Medium. There is no warmth left over, but the aftertaste is quite proficient at lingering.
– Between Sips: A strange bitter (again) flavor, but I also taste a grape-y essence between sips, and it is quite good at persisting for a long time. I taste it the most at the back of my tongue, but no matter how hard I try, I cannot get it to go away. Despite other issues with this whiskey, the aftertaste is where I’m struggling the most… It’s just not great.

– No More: I suppose I can find some wood; however, again, it is indistinct. It’s hazy, but it’s also chewy. This could be the source of the bitterness, so I don’t think it’s oak. As my father suggests in his review of this Angel’s Envy batch, it could be be the port barrel and therefore, potentially not the whiskey barrel. Along with the possible wood, the cherry sneaks out more, which is nice.

The empty Glencairn is very oaky and it is not bitter at all. I would have loved to get those flavors in the palate, but here’s to hoping other batches and bottles prove more enjoyable, and I do sincerely look forward to experimenting more with batches.

WORTH THE PRICE?

I’ll have to take a look at our other bottle’s batch offering; however, at is stands, I’m not sure that this is quite worth the price. Still, this isn’t awful, and I will look forward to seeing what our other bottle offers.

RATING: 82/100

Click to see Hannah’s rating process

Click 82/100 to access other whiskies with this rating.

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Hannah’s Whiskey Reviews
Whiskey Reviews

Angel’s Envy Batch 70-Z Review

Brian’s Angel’s Envy Review:

posted on 26-January-2020

ANGEL’S ENVY BATCH 70-Z REVIEW:

NOTE: This review is from Batch 70-Z which I’ve had in my bunker since July 2019, but it was in the Idaho State Liquor Division’s warehouse prior to that. I will update my review when a bottle from a new batch is opened.

Angel’s Envy Batch 70-Z is bourbon and wine on the nose, in the mouth and at the finish which is to be expected from a port barrel finished bourbon. It is a fresh and clean juice and this batch well balanced. Still I expected a bit more from a bottle at this price point.

ANGEL’S ENVY BATCH 70-Z VITAL STATS:
Angel's Envy Review

– Category: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
– Finished in Port Barrels, then hand blended in batches of 8 to 12 barrels at a time.
– Region: Louisville, KY, USA
– Distillery: Angel’s Envy Distillery
– Mash Bill: 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley
– Barrel Char: #3
– Barrel entry proof: 125
– Age: nas
– ABV: 43.3% (96.6 Proof)
– Batch #: 70 Z
– Bottle #: 4110
– Price: $46.95 USD in Idaho

Learn more at https://angelsenvy.com

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

For the evaluation, I shared the juice neat from Glencairn glasses with my daughter and fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer Hannah.

Check out her review for this bourbon here!

NOSE:

I picked up a blast of corn on the first waft from the Glencairn from this batch of Angel’s Envy. On the second and subsequent nosings, the draws were dry, with a faint burn and they were full of bourbon and wine. The dusty corn wains but never truly drifts away as scents of fresh citrus – orange rind, Maraschino cherries and dark stone fruit come forward. Its spices present as well mixed allspice and rye. The sweetness is more candy-like than sugary: vanilla taffy and candy corn with a faint hint of orange blossom honey in the mix for good measure. This bottle is simple and gentle with hints of faint leather and a trace of walnuts peeking into hazy, toasted light oak. It is fresh and clean on the nose.

PALATE:

There is a quick burn then warmth as the juice is first sipped. Bourbon and wine are at the forefront as grassiness and green vegetables (maybe Brussel sprouts???) come forward. The citrus detected on the nose enters the mouth as orange marmalade. There are also fruits of fig and current. The juice is full of cloves, ginger, pepper, rye, and loads of warm Christmas spices. Any trace of sweetness detected on the nose is gone and is replaced with nice earthy old leather, and bitter walnuts and there is plenty of woody, smoky-sweet char and seasoned old oak.

Angel's Envy Review

Balance, Body, Feel and Look:
This batch of Angel’s Envy is balanced and well blended, viscous and oily in the mouth and thoroughly pleasant to sip. In the Glencairn, droplets cling then return in long slow dropping legs to the light mahogany pool.

FINISH:

Angel’s Envy finishes with medium length and gives the throat a nice warm tickle. As on the nose and in the mouth there are traces of bourbon and wine (its port influence) which mix with a trace of green vegetables and faint citrus. Its spices of cloves and rye are greatly diminished and a faint burnt sugar sweetness returns. As the dram is drawn down, earthy old leather, hazy barrel char and seasoned old oak waft from the empty Glencairn.

MY RATING: 86/100

Will I seek out this whiskey in the future? Yes
But it won’t be a must have in the bunker.
Click to read Brian’s scoring process.

Click 86/100 to access other whiskies with this score.

WHISKEY TRAITS, FLAVOR NOTES AND PROFILE GRAPH:
Angel's Envy Review

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Individual Reviews