ANGEL'S ENVY CELLAR COLLECTION VOL. 5
STRAIGHT RYE WHISKEY FRENCH OAK ANEJO TEQUILA CASK FINISH
LOUISVILLE, KY
WHY BUY:
Bourbon circles have been buzzing for months, and now it's finally here: Angel's Envy has unveiled the fifth installment of their Cellar Collection, and folks, it’s a rockstar of a rye. Straight Rye, aged up to 7 years, finished in rare Patrón French Oak Extra Añejo tequila barrels for up to 12 months, then married with older Straight Rye, aged over 11 years. The result — Master Distiller Owen Martin's debut innovation, and the Cellar Collection's first nationwide release — transcends category, and rewrites the rules of what rye can be. The critics are just beginning to weigh in on this release, but we feel confident that this new bottling is going to rack up some major hardware come award season.
OUR TASTING NOTES:
This is what happens when rye whiskey takes a little R&R in Mexico. Start with the nose, which opens with a gorgeous floral brightness backed by toasty vanilla and a wisp of clove smoke that keeps pulling you back for another inhalation. On the palate, there’s of course that classic rye one-two of spice and pepper, but the beauty here is in the additional notes of herbal agave sweetness, earthy tobacco, and brown sugar, a function of those rare French Oak tequila barrels. The finish brings an unexpected burst of orange blossom honey and tropical fruits, all carried on a wave of warm French oak that tapers gently rather than crashes.
THE STORY:
Angel's Envy was born when Bourbon Hall of Famer Lincoln Henderson and his son Wes decided the rules of American whiskey needed a little rewriting. Their innovation: the now-widely-emulated "secondary finishing" technique, to create spirits of maturity and refinement that don’t sacrifice drinkability. The name itself comes from industry lore — the 5% of spirit lost each year during aging is called the "Angel's Share." After tasting their finished whiskey, Lincoln quipped that they'd finally struck a better deal than the angels. For this groundbreaking release, Master Distiller Owen Martin went straight to the beating heart of tequila, traveling to Hacienda Patrón in Jalisco to collaborate with Patrón's Master Distiller David Rodriguez. He immersed himself in tequila production, and all for one reason: to inform his selection of French Oak Extra Añejo barrels.
THE METHOD:
Martin began this composition with two exceptional elements: a Straight Rye aged 6.5-7 years and a much older Straight Rye, aged over 11 years. The younger rye spends up to 12 months in French Oak Extra Añejo tequila casks, barrels so rare they might as well be unicorns. The older rye is then added to it, mingling with the younger rye, softening its attack, deepening its dimensions, and, ultimately, creating something that’s far greater than the sum of its already impressive parts.
ABV:
52.1% (104.2 proof).
OUR GUARANTEE:
We've secured this release directly from Angel's Envy to ensure perfect provenance. Given their track record for creating must-have limited releases, we can tell you: our allocation isn’t going to last long — so secure yours today!