Angel’s Envy Bottled-in-Bond Cask Strength Review
In-Depth Review
To understand Angel’s Envy’s latest expression, a little history lesson is in order. Rewind to the late 1800s and American whisky production was booming. Everyone was drinking, selling, or buying whisky. But due massive inconsistencies in the industry, consumers struggled to understand good whisky from downright dangerous whisky. In response to this, Congress enacted legislation that created a set of standards that would help stabilize the industry. The resulting legislation was called the Bottle-in-Bond act. The Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897 remains one of the most significant pieces of whisky legislation in history – and was actually the first consumer protection law in American history. The legislation had four major requirements:
· Must be aged for a minimum of four years.
· Must be bottled at precisely 100 proof (50% ABV).
· Must be made by a single distiller in a single distilling season
· Must be aged in a bonded warehouse.
Fast forward to today, and despite major improvements to the whisky making process, distilleries across the US are still regularly producing Bottled-in-Bond spirits. This brings us to today’s pour – Angel’s Envy Bottled-in-Bond Cask Strength. And if the combination of bottled-in-bond and cask strength on the same label gives you pause – you aren’t alone. This unusual expression was developed by mixing barrels to reach an exact 100 proof without the addition of water. I struggle to think of any other expression I’ve seen that follows a similar process. And in another unusual move for Angel’s Envy, this bourbon does not go through any secondary finishing. Instead, this is pure, unaltered Angel’s Envy bourbon. This distillery only expression comes in a 375ML and retails for $59.99. I picked this up during the Kentucky Bourbon Festival but is typically only found inside the distillery gift shop. So, let’s dive in and see what a cask strength bottled-in-bond whisky tastes like!
Age: Around 6 Years
ABV: 50%
Cask: New oak
MSRP: $59.99 (375ml)
Distillery Name: Angel’s Envy
Review Date: 10/1/24
Color: Rich Caramel
Nose: The nose begins with musty, dark, stewed fruits with an almost rancio character. A splash of pond water funk mixed with chocolate orange syrup and caramelized sugar. It’s good, but a bit unusual. It needs a bit of air to open up and blossom because right out of the gate, this nose lives on the funky side.
Palate: After letting it sit in the glass for 10 minutes, the palate continues with more fruits like juicy plums and baked caramel apples, with a slight metallic twinge. As you sip, it develops into confectioners’ sugar, raspberry jam, and baked pastry – almost like a fruit Danish. Very well balanced with a lovely mouthfeel.
Finish: Medium length finish that delivers more toasted oak and caramel beyond going slightly acidic. As it lingers, more white pepper and anise appear but it remains sweet throughout, never going too dry.
Final Thoughts: Angel’s Envy Bottled-in-Bond Cask Strength expression is our best glimpse yet into what unfinished Angel’s Envy tastes like – and spoiler – it’s pretty good. It has all the big fruit notes you expect from classic Angel’s Envy bourbon mixed with a touch of rancio that keeps you on your toes. And while the Bottled-in-Bond Cask Strength process may come across as a bit gimmicky – it’s hard to deny that this is a well-balance, easy to sip, expression of well-aged Kentucky bourbon. And while you can tell that this bourbon isn’t trying to hold anything back, it fails to reach the heights of some of their other cask strength offerings. Regardless, if you find yourself in Louisville, I recommend grabbing a bottle – if only for the opportunity to explain the quirky Bottled-in-Bond Cask Strength labeling.
