Angel's Envy Rye Finished in Caribbean Rum Casks

Creme brûlée flavor

I was not a huge fan of rum-cask finishing in scotch when I tried The Balvenie 14 Caribbean Cask, but that rum is working its magic here. The nose definitely lives up to the proof at first, but when those initial vapors blow off, oh my. There's cedar wood, charred caramel chocolate brownies, molasses, and gingerbread. The sweetness from the rum adds a ton of sweet notes, and so the rye spice ends up manifesting more as dessert baking spices, which I loved. The palate features some prickly heat, but then more caramel, chocolate malt, rye spice, graham cracker and marshmallow, and gingerbread. There is a rough, hot edge to all of this, which is the main downside, and makes me wonder whether a tick or two lower in proof or another year or so of aging would be beneficial. The finish is more rye-like and spicy, with ginger, cinnamon, pepper, and another wave of heat. This is a complex and somewhat challenging rye, which kept rising in my estimation with each sip.