Angel’s Envy Rye Whiskey is a new product from the Louisville Distilling Company, maker’s of Angel’s Envy Bourbon. While the bourbon is finished in port casks, the rye whiskey is finished for 18 months in Caribbean rum casks before bottling. Both are the product of Master Distiller Lincoln Henderson, who bucked some whiskey traditions with both of these releases.
“We considered finishing a spirit in rum casks for some time and ultimately felt that the spiciness of a well-rounded rye provided the best pairing,” said Henderson. He and his team sourced and sampled more than 100 different rums before choosing one they believed would best complement their six year old rye whiskey.
Angel’s Envy Rye Whiskey pours reddish amber in the glass. On the nose, it’s full of sweet notes, from butterscotch and caramel to toasted vanilla and maple. That mingles with mild hints of baking spices, dark fruits and sherry. Take a sip for big, buttery rum notes, plus some raisins and cherries. The finish is sweet, with the little bit of spice fading toward the close.
Overall, there’s a lot going on here. Angel’s Envy Rye has tons of flavor, although not the typical spicy grain notes we’re used to. Those are exchanged for a far sweeter dram than you might expect, so keep that in mind if you’re mixing cocktails. That said, with a $70 price tag and an incredibly easy-to-drink disposition, you’d be better off drinking this one on its own.
Angel’s Envy Rye is being released this month, and it will be available in select states including California, Illinois, Kentucky, Massachusetts, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Texas.
Stats:
– 50% Alcohol by Volume
– $69.99
CE Rating: ★★★★
Any idea where they source their rye?
Todd – they don’t specify, but the mashbill is 95/5, so LDI is probably a solid guess as to their source.