Angel’s Envy 2022 Cask Strength - Review

Angel’s Envy Distillery, founded in 2010 by Master Distiller Lincoln Henderson and his son Wes Henderson, has quickly become a prominent name in the bourbon industry. Lincoln Henderson, a Bourbon Hall of Fame inductee known for creating iconic brands like Woodford Reserve, came out of retirement to pursue this family-driven project. The distillery is renowned for its innovative secondary finishing technique, where bourbon is aged in new American oak barrels for 4–6 years before spending an additional six months in port wine casks. This process imparts unique red-fruit notes, setting Angel’s Envy apart in the competitive bourbon market[1][3][6].

Located in downtown Louisville, Kentucky, Angel’s Envy occupies a historic site on Whiskey Row. This area was once the epicenter of bourbon production before Prohibition forced most distilleries to relocate. In 2016, Angel’s Envy became the first full-production distillery to return to Whiskey Row since Prohibition, sparking a revival of Louisville’s bourbon heritage. The distillery has since expanded its facilities to accommodate growing demand and offers immersive experiences such as tours, tastings, and a "Bottle Your Own Single Barrel" program[1][5][7].

The 2022 release of Angel’s Envy Cask Strength Bourbon exemplifies the brand’s commitment to excellence. This limited-edition offering is part of their annual tradition of crafting high-proof bourbons finished in port barrels. Overseen by Owen Martin, who became Master Distiller in 2022, the Cask Strength Bourbon showcases exceptional complexity and depth. Each batch is carefully crafted to highlight bold flavors while maintaining balance and refinement. These releases are highly sought after by collectors and enthusiasts alike, cementing Angel’s Envy's reputation as a leader in innovation within the bourbon industry[3][4].

Review:

Nose: The port wine finish immediately pops out on the initial scent. Many dark dried red fruit notes come about with some oak and barrel spice on the back end. This smells a bit younger (4-5 years old) and I am getting some ethanol as well. SOme more classic bourbon notes eventually come through such as vanilla and brown sugar. I am not necessarily sure I agree with the Distiller’s citrusy notes to this as it comes across more as stewed cherries and spiced pie crust.

Palate: This sip is lovely. It brings some heat with the 119.6 proof but the cherry notes comes across even stronger on the palate with some classic bourbon notes pairing with it. It feels quite oily on the tongue which I enjoy and is very balanced in it’s flavor profile. On the second sip I get some dusty corn, white pepper, and caramel to wrap it all together. This sips more as a dessert whiskey but not in a way that is overpoweringly sweet. This is a substantial step up from the nose.

Finish: The finish is pretty mild actually for the proof point and the viscosity of the whiskey. i would say the finish only last about 10-15 seconds for me. I finally am getting some of the green apple/citrusy notes on the end after a few sips but otherwise the flavor remains true to the notes received on the palate.

Overall: 77. This is a good finished whiskey and I wanted it to be great. The nose was a bit disappointing with younger notes coming through and didnt offer as much as I would have expected for the price. The palate was a delight and I have to say it’s the reason i’m not too terribly upset about the bottle. When this was purchased it came off of very high praise with the Double gold the 2021 offering won and off of the glory days of the mid 2010’s incredibly cask strength bottles. I think this is the year that many stopped hunting this bottle. I have consistently seen the last offering (2024) on the shelf since being dropped.

Value: 30/100; (-5 on the overall). This bottle retails for about $229.99. That is incredibly tough for me to get behind when you can get a single barrel store pick (at 110 proof) for $89.99 in most stores (no more than $100). I feel this bottle is worth at an absolute max, of $150. To be honest, I would have a hard time paying that. I think this is a nice bottle for those whiskey advocates out there, but I’d be lying to you if you couldn’t find a bottle notably better at this price. Stick with the single barrel offerings they come out with, you and your wallet will be quite happy.

Availability: Limited availability. These are only offered once a year but seem to have flooded the market in the last year (especially where I am in Chicago). If you stopped by a few stores, I bet you’d be able to snag one with relative ease.

Citations:

[1] https://nuvomagazine.com/daily-edit/angels-envy-honours-louisvilles-bourbon-history

[2] https://centralkentuckytours.com/the-legacy-of-angels-envy-distillery/

[3] https://www.angelsenvy.com/us/en/our-story/

[4] https://www.angelsenvy.com/us/en/guide/inside-angels-envy/a-celebration-of-the-independent-spirit-and-the-life-and-legacy-of-lincoln-henderson/

[5] https://www.tastingtable.com/1253526/angels-envy-made-history-louisville/

[6] https://vinepair.com/articles/angels-envy-bourbon-rye-guide/

[7] https://www.angelsenvy.com/us/en/our-story/the-family/wes-henderson/

[8] https://www.angelsenvy.com/us/en/guide/whiskey-content/the-birth-of-bottling/