Angel’s Envy Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Japanese Mizunara Oak Casks Review

BOTTLES DETAILS

• DISTILLER:  Released by Angel's Envy.
• MASH BILL: N/A
• Cooperage: Aged initially in new charred American oak barrels then finished in new charred Japanese mizunara oak barrels for two additional years
• AGE: Blend of 4- and 9-year-old Kentucky Straight Bourbons
• YEAR: 2020
• PROOF: 97.8 (43.9% ABV)
• MSRP: $350.00
• BUY ONLINE: Not available online. Available Sept. 1st at 8 am at the Distillery and at select Kentucky retailers while bottles last.

STEVE'S NOTES

NOSE: Clover Honey | Honey Dew Melon | Toasted Oak

TASTE: Honey | Graham Cracker | Roasted Tropical Fruit | Whiff of Smoke

FINISH: Completely clean and disappearing, and pleasantly so. Smoke appears with subsequent sips.

SHARE WITH: Anyone who enjoys bourbon and would appreciate a unique experience.

WORTH THE PRICE: Bottle, and here’s why: This is pricey at $350. But when I consider the mindboggling sums people pay for whiskeys not even close to this in uniqueness and quality, it’s worth it. It would make a stunner of a special occasion gift—wedding, 50^th anniversary, retirement, etc.—or just a gift to yourself.

BOTTLE, BAR OR BUST: Bottle. Not only are you getting rare whiskey, you’re getting it in a gorgeous crystal decanter whose labels are designed for removal.

OVERALL: For 10 years Angel’s Envy has produced delicate, rounded and balanced bourbons finished in second-use casks—port, tawny port, sherry and rum (for its rye). Now we have a first-use mizunara oak barrel from Japan, which makes this bourbon markedly different from its predecessors.

This is brand new, imported cooperage that is pricey, porous (I was told the angel’s share was huge) and took a long time to make its impact on the liquid. The end result is one I’d never have recognized as Angel’s Envy without being told. That doesn’t make it the family’s wild child, but it’s a child with strong opinions, and I love what it has to say.

I don’t recall drinking a whiskey—or possibly any spirit—that hits the palate so cleanly. Even at 97.8 proof, this is a bourbon you can let languish behind your lips for long moments—that is if you can resist swallowing it. This unique wood, which takes 200 years of growth to mature, hones the whiskey to a silky smoothness while still leaving its flavors well defined and sharply pronounced. It is a whiskey that should be sipped in a quiet place where it can be studied and savored slowly.

BRAND NOTES

ANGEL’S ENVY KENTUCKY STRAIGHT BOURBON WHISKEY FINISHED ^IN JAPANESE MIZUNARA OAK CASKS

In celebration of Founder’s Day on August 19th, the 10-year anniversary of the first port barrel filled by Angel’s Envy, we’re releasing our first expression in our Founder’s Collection.

THE FOUNDER’S COLLECTION

On August 19th of 2010, Lincoln, Wes and Kyle Henderson filled their first ruby port wine barrel with Kentucky Straight Bourbon. 10 years later, we’re celebrating this Founder’s Day with a truly unique launch that would have made Master Distiller Lincoln Henderson proud. Wes and Kyle blended two Kentucky straight bourbons in a 50/50 ratio (four year and nine year) and finished them in hand-selected, charred, new Japanese Mizunara oak casks for an additional two years.

WHY MIZUNARA OAK?

During his 40-year career, Lincoln had several consulting roles in Japan, where he developed a deep appreciation and love for the culture and its distilling community. To honor this connection, we chose a Mizunara Oak Finish for our inaugural Founder’s Day release. Mizunara oak takes approximately 200 years to reach maturity and is challenging to work with. However, Mizunara is more porous than other oaks, allowing for easier passage of the whiskey into and out of the fragrant cask’s interior. We’ve never shied away from hard work if it results in an exceptional whiskey, and our Mizunara oak finished bourbon truly embraces Lincoln’s pioneering founder’s philosophy.

Available Sept. 1st at 8am at the Distillery and at and select Kentucky retailers while bottles last

Nose: Notes of smoky wood, sandalwood, banana bread, cherry and ripe apples.

Taste: Notes of vanilla, oak, rich chocolate, banana, cinnamon, apple and light black pepper are present, along with floral and fruity notes and a hint of coffee.

Finish: Slightly dry with hints of toasty oak and a lingering smokiness.

ANGEL'S ENVY® RELEASES LIMITED-EDITION ANGEL’S ENVY KENTUCKY STRAIGHT BOURBON FINISHED IN JAPANESE MIZUNARA OAK CASKS FOR PRESALE IN CELEBRATION OF THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BRAND’S FOUNDER’S DAY

LOUISVILLE, KY (August 19, 2020) - ANGEL’S ENVY®, the Louisville-based craft distiller that produces small batch, finished whiskeys, opened presale today for its Founder’s Day 10th Anniversary release, ANGEL’S ENVY Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Japanese Mizunara Oak Casks.

ANGEL’S ENVY Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Japanese Mizunara Oak Casks is a blend of four-year-old and nine-year-old ANGEL’S ENVY Kentucky Straight Bourbon that is finished in hand-selected, charred, new Japanese Mizunara oak casks for an additional two years. This release is the first in ANGEL’S ENVY’s Founder’s Collection, which exclusively includes releases commemorating brand anniversaries, special events and milestones.

“Ten years ago today, my dad Lincoln and I filled our first port barrels with the bourbon that would eventually become Angel’s Envy. In celebration, we wanted to release something special to honor my dad’s incredible legacy, how far Angel’s Envy has come and our exciting future ahead,” said Wes Henderson, ANGEL’S ENVY Co-founder and Chief Innovation Officer. “We chose this release for the tenth anniversary because my dad, having taken on several consulting roles in Japan during his career, always had a deep appreciation for the country and its distilling community. This release, finished in Mizunara casks made from this rare, 200-year-old wood, felt fitting for such a special milestone for Angel’s Envy.”

Beginning today, ANGEL’S ENVY 500 Main members can purchase a bottle ahead of the general public for pickup at the Louisville distillery. ANGEL’S ENVY fans can sign up for 500 Main here – in addition to the opportunity to pre-purchase Mizunara, members will also be the first to learn about all of ANGEL’S ENVY ’s special announcements and will receive access to exclusive content, such as behind-the-scenes videos and Q&As with whiskey experts.

Following the 500 Main presale, the limited run of just 1,200 bottles will be available for public purchase beginning on September 1st at ANGEL’S ENVY’s distillery in downtown Louisville and select retailers in Kentucky. There will be a one-bottle limit per customer.

ANGEL’S ENVY Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Japanese Mizunara Oak Casks is 97.8 proof. On the nose, it offers notes of smoky wood, sandalwood, banana bread, cherry and ripe apples. On the palate, notes of vanilla, oak, rich chocolate, banana, cinnamon, apple and light black pepper are present, along with floral and fruity notes and a hint of coffee. The finish is slightly dry with hints of toasty oak and a lingering smokiness.

Once this rare release is enjoyed, the empty bottle – crafted from premium, lead-free crystal – is meant to be stripped of labels and reused as a decanter.

Disclaimer: Angel's Envy provided Bourbon & Banter with a sample of their product for this review. We appreciate their willingness to allow us to review their products with no strings attached. Thank you.