It is given much praise and critically acclaimed, but not always found in wide circulation.
Once you do find a bottle, you will be eternally grateful.
It is Angel’s Envy Kentucky Straight Bourbon.
Veteran master distiller Lincoln Henderson designed this award winning whiskey in 2006. By guiding each batch’s conditioning and blending this handcrafted bourbon in small batches of only 8-10 barrels at a time, Angel’s Envy is able to monitor every step of the distilling process, finally finishing this ambrosia in ruby port wine casks made from French oak and imported directly from Portugal. This creates a whiskey of unprecedented smoothness, sweetness, and balance.
It is aged for up to 6 years, with 5% of this silky spirit being lost to evaporation each year. That is considered the “Angel’s Share”, while the remainder left for us mortals is truly worthy of their envy.
Although their website boasts many angelic-monikered cocktails, it would be a sin to add anything other than ice to this whiskey. It’s perfect as is.
Its nose offers subtle notes of vanilla, raisins, pure maple syrup, and toasted nuts. This gives way to a palate that expands upon the vanilla with tastes of ripe fruit, more maple, and bitter chocolate. Angel’s Envy flows into a smooth, velvety finish with a lingering sweetness that slowly fades with a vinous hint of Madeira.
Try Angel’s Envy, the bourbon Wine Enthusiast awarded 98 points and called “Classic; the pinnacle of quality”.