BOTTLE DETAILS
- DISTILLER: Undisclosed Kentucky distillery
- MASH BILL: 72% Corn | 18% Rye | 10% Malted Barley
- AGE: 10 years
- YEAR: 2025
- PROOF: 122.6 proof (ABV 61.3%)
- MSRP: $249.99
- BUY ONLINE: Angel’s Envy bottle locator
STEVE’S NOTES
SHARE WITH: Bourbon lovers, especially those, like me, whose paychecks don’t easily endure the smackdown that bottles like this will put on it.
WORTH THE PRICE: It’s awfully steep, but it’s 10 years old and well made. If you’ve got the money and love these annual releases, you’ll be pleased with your purchase.
BOTTLE, BAR OR BUST: Give it a try at the bar first. If you still want a bottle, 24,480 will be released.
OVERALL: I rarely comment on whiskey color, but the deep, new-penny-copper hue of this is beautiful. Credit those juicy Port barrels for that off-amber accent.
At first sniff, the nose screams as “bourbon” before whispering “Port.” Dried fruit notes veer off to an empty wine glass left to evaporate and release sweet-tart aromas. More investigation reveals creamier notes of confectioner’s sugar, then candied violets and raspberry chocolate truffles. I get it: It sounds dessert-y, but the palate says otherwise … initially, anyway.
The greeting is like a big and bold hello from a veteran stump politician who deems subtlety as “wimpy, suh!” This is old and spicy bourbon, yet it’s surprisingly bereft of tannin or oak dominance. It takes a few sips to rouse the Port influence, but once you have it, it not only remains, it invites chocolate-covered cherries to the party before leaning slightly further into Port then vaguely referencing cognac. I loves me some grape-accented whiskey.
Saying it’s not a complex bourbon is not a sleight, rather it’s a nod to whiskies that present as lean, lithe and elegant–which is no small feat for liquid resting 10 years in oak. In a world of double-oaked tannin bombs, this measured approach is much appreciated. It’s also a testament to skilled aging.
I’ll generally make a cocktail with anything that comes to my home, but that’s not happening with this one. This bourbon deserves slow contemplation and sharing with friends. Around a fire? Sure. What whiskey isn’t made better around a fire? Well, OK, there are some samples I receive that deserve to be thrown into the fire. But if you’re a (reluctant and regretful) condo dweller like me, and you have no fire around which to gather friends for trite Instagram ops and meaningful sips, just get a book, cuddle up to your spouse (insist they have a book, too, because this is bourbon quiet time–no talking!) and ruminate over this delicious liquid in peace.
BRAND NOTES
At 122.6 proof (ABV 61.3%), this spirit reveals its fullest character when savored neat after 15 to 20 minutes of rest. A few drops of water or a pour over ice invite new layers to unfold, offering a deeper exploration with every sip.
NOSE: Sweet cinnamon toast and creamy fruit nougat, woven over a backbone of candied nuts.
PALATE: Rich notes of baklava fade into ripe apricot, crème brulee, and cognac, spiced with a touch of grains of paradise.
FINISH: The port cask influence builds gracefully, revealing notes of rum raisin cake while leaving a lingering invitation for another sip.
Disclaimer: Bourbon & Banter received a sample of this product from the brand for review. We appreciate their willingness to allow us to review their products with no strings attached. Thank you.
