Angel's Envy Private Selection Single Barrel Bourbon Finished in Port Wine Barrels Bourbon (Liquor Barn, 2021)

Liquor Barn selection, 109.8 proof, barrel #3703, bottle #122. Alright, I'm truly hoping there's nobody out there that's defending the price of this, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't excited to try it. It was a truly unintentional purchase that I did mostly because I was only limited to one bottle. Angel's Envy is one of the most conceited distilleries out there, believing that their profoundly low inventory of 2 different products deserves no change, no production boost, and certainly no discount. I grew very tired of their standard bourbon quite fast, as it costs far too much with not a whole lot to offer, especially at 80 proof. Now present me with just one barrel's flavors and jack up the proof, and we're probably talking... But you better talk pretty loud if you want to justify almost 3 digits in cost. I remember Angel's Envy bourbon being fairly dark in color (likely from the port barrels, since I'm doubting they ever shared an age statement), but still very clear and watery at that very low proof. This one, however, has much deeper color, and if any comes from the port barrels, it's not obvious enough versus the higher proof. Sweet corn and rye spice (and classic accompanying notes) are easily detected, but as the oak presents itself, I get a sweeter, almost rum-like note, that's certainly different and fitting from the finishing barrels. It's probably a placebo, but there may be just a touch of dusty grape juice near the end. The initial flavor is mouth-coating, but not of either sweet or spicy. Instead, it's damp, dusty, brandy-like, imparting notes of jammed and old fruit. Typical bourbon notes shine through at this point (slightly more rye notes than corn), but a raw cocoa flavor also comes to light. This moves to a more familiar dark chocolate near the finish, as the high proof fights with the rye to spice up the gum line on the way out. Alright, so this is good. Really, though, this is what Angel's Envy bourbon should taste like from the beginning, but that's my biased opinion as someone who abhors drinking under 100 proof. This product should have been available long ago, and by making people wait and fight to get it is a really low blow, almost on par with Buffalo Trace's scumminess. Furthermore, it should cost what the standard bourbon does, and the standard stuff should cost fall less. However, they followed brilliant marketing, and established their following so that they could sell this for over $100 easily, with nobody to ask questions. You could help them count their money and get this yourself, or you could just drink a friend's bottle, and look elsewhere for affordable, high proof, barrel select bourbons.

The port barrels gives it a bit of a burnt flavor. Once that dissipates, it’s not bad.

Neat. Neck pour. Gallenstein pick. 105.8 proof. Curious about these for $90 when the annual cask strength cost $200. The proof is a little lower I suppose, but that isn’t worth an extra $110. I’ll compare to the 2018 cask strength at the end of this. The nose is very subtle. A light peanut is the first thing grabbing me, but then there is a confectionary sweetness surrounded by berries. Blueberries even. Little caramel with those peanuts like a peanut brittle. The nose is pleasant but takes too much digging for little value. Mouth feel is very syrupy. That port is really coming out front, very sweet. There is more flavor to this than I was expecting. Mainly those peanut brittle notes for me, there is a brine to it to which really rounds out that specific flavor. Then the port influence comes back at the end and lingers a decent amount. Comparing to the 2018 Cask Strength. Geez, very similar on the nose. The 2018 is better. Stronger flavors, more port influence. Sweetness is more pronounced. They are very similar though. So it is good, but overpriced for what it is. It doesn’t have a stand out feature or note, it is just good all around. The cask strength is a step up but no where worth double+ the price. This existing for $90 makes it too hard to justify the cask strength at $200+.