The Angel’s Share is a common term used in whiskey making. It refers to the roughly 5% that is lost due to evaporation during aging. The founders of Angel’s Envy, Lincoln and Wes Henderson decided to take the process a step further and age their whiskey in port barrels. After tasting their first batch, Lincoln joked that “they had finally gotten a better deal than the angels.”
One sip of Angel’s Envy Rye and you will know how right they were. The angels may win more often than not when it comes to whiskey but when it comes to this one, they are definitely left…dare I say... envious. Heh heh. As much as I would love to take credit for that pun but I feel it is pretty obvious Lincoln and Wes beat me to it.
Needless to say, this is my favorite whiskey at the time of this post. It has been that way for a few years and I don't know if it will ever lose its top spot. Luckily for me, there is still a ton of whiskeys I haven't tried yet so I guess I need to keep exploring to see if any can take Rye's throne. Right now, however, I will gladly drink this in any scenario. Anniversary? Angel’s Envy Rye. Reuniting with friends? Angel’s Envy Rye. A buddy’s baby shower? Angel’s Envy Rye. Don’t judge me. It was over facetime and I am pretty sure they couldn’t see the glass.
This love does pose some problems. I am sorry to break it to you dear reader but every love story is not like the movies. Real love takes work but when you find the right one it is worth it. Rye for instance is notoriously difficult to find and sells out quickly when it is available. It is also not what I would consider cheap, usually reselling for around $100 with tax. Lindsay basically works as a nurse so we could afford our rations of this and Lagavulin. She says it is because she enjoys it but I know it is secretly the whiskey thing.
All those negatives aside though it is a fantastic whiskey. I am not normally a rye whiskey drinker. If it’s not done very well they can taste like rubbing alcohol and the few I had before this one fit right into this category.
The first time I tried it my wife and I were at a tasting event hosted by Angel's Envy in Washington D.C. We had previously tried their normal Port Finished Bourbon and really enjoyed it. Their Cask Strength was very good as well but when the bartender presented me the opportunity to try Angel's Envy Rye I politely declined. I told him I don't really like ryes and explained my reasoning. Luckily he didn't listen to a word I said because as I was talking he was already pouring it for my wife and me. We didn't want to be rude and we were assured by the Guardians at the event we would like it because this wasn't a normal rye. Angel's Envy finished it in Caribbean Rum barrels after they aged it to smooth the whiskey out some and give it a slightly sweeter taste. As I brought it up to my nose I knew this would be different. It smelled amazing and not like the burning alcohol ryes I had before. It had a candy-like scent that was very enticing to a candy lover such as myself, but not as sweet as a flavored whiskey. It tasted just as good as it smelled and was filled with complex flavors that I didn't expect and the sweetness was very subtle and just enough to curb a burn. In the finish, you could really taste the rum notes. I was pleasantly surprised and the bartender gave me the "I told you so smirk". Always listen to a good bartender. I have never been led astray by a master of their craft.
Thank the whiskey gods I listened that night because I knew if I ever found a bottle I would love to sit quietly at home and try it again. I have had the opportunity to do that, multiple times and I have yet to be disappointed. I try to buy one any time I see it or as my budget will allow and it gets better every time I sip it. It is truly a special whiskey that is worth all the effort required to hunt one down. Actually, come to think of it I may have made a huge mistake. If all of you take my advice and go get one for yourselves then it would be even harder for me to find. So I take it all back and I was just kidding! You should definitely NOT buy a bottle of this so that I can keep finding them! Thanks and cheers!
Angel's Envy Rye is 100 proof and is surprisingly smooth at that level. These are the listed notes but I don't always get all of these. I am curious to hear what you got.
Appearance: Crystal clear quality with a rich reddish amber color
Nose: Aromas of citrus, caramel candy, maple sugar, vanilla, oak, hazelnut, spice, and sherry wood
Palate: Sweet rum, sherry wood, and soft oak
Finish: Both sweet and dry, as well as quick and easy
I would recommend a glass of this neat but as always drink it the way you will enjoy it most. Overall, I would definitely buy Angel's Envy Rye anytime you see it.
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