Angel’s Envy was the first bottle of bourbon that I ever owned when I started my whisky journey. I got it 3 years ago for my birthday and blew through it so fast I didn’t bother taking notes. I remember loving it though. I opened this bottle about 2 months ago after the sudden passing of a Detroit radio icon. Mike Clark of the Drew and Mike show was a legend in Southeast Michigan and he loved Angel’s Envy, so to honor his memory I cracked open my bottle when I got home the day he passed. This is a NAS expression but from everything I’ve heard it’s 6-8 years old. Finished in port barrels, bottled at 43.3% ABV, chill filtered and natural color of a medium dark copper. This is bottle 927 from batch V30 in case anyone was interested. The nose is very sweet, but not cloyingly so. The port influence is right up front with lots of red fruits. Apples, red grapes, nectarines, raisins and black cherries. There is a strong oaky backbone, barrel char and lots of corn comes through once the fruitier notes subside a little. Brown sugar, vanilla cream, some rye, mint and dill. Dark chocolate but not too bitter, honey roasted almonds and pink bubblegum. Slightly musty with a bit of a chalky/mineral note at times, but not very often in the whole development over time. Peanut brittle, toffee and a little maple. Nutmeg, cinnamon and ginger with more buttery corn coming through. More fruits come and go, plums, blackberries and candied pineapple. The palate is sweet and spicy, but definitely leans more to the sweet side. Oak and corn are up front and very prominent. Dark chocolate, wood spice, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg and ginger. Nutty- pecans, peanuts and almonds. Brown sugar, maple and a light vanilla. Not as fruity as the nose, but the fruits are there in the form of apple skins, grape jelly and orange oil. A light bodied mouthfeel that is a bit thin but mouthwatering. The finish is medium length with oak, corn, maple, fruity and sweet. I love this bourbon. It’s not even close to the best or most complex I’ve ever had, but it’s easy sipping, approachable, fine for friends that might happen by and want a dram, but also can be pondered over and dissected should the mood hit you. I’ve never mixed it, but it’s decent over ice. A tad pricy at $45 but those port pipes aren’t cheap so I can accept it. The port notes are not dominating the experience, but rather play off of the corn and oak notes. I loved it 3 years ago and I still love it today. 4.25 Cheers