Angel’s Envy Just Dropped Its Rarest Rye Whiskey Yet—and It’s Actually Available Nationwide
American whiskey is a crowded category these days, but Angel’s Envy has established separation in the space by focusing almost entirely on barrel-finished expressions. The Kentucky producer initially launched back in 2011 with a straight bourbon finished in port wine barrels. At the time, secondary maturation of this sort was seen as something novel—or even heretical—in bourbon making. Now, it’s common practice.
Angel’s Envy, in turn, has worked diligently to stay at the forefront of a trend it helped inspire. The best example of this innovation is through its coveted Cellar Collection Series. First debuted in 2019, these annual releases each highlight a premium finishing element, are packaged in book-like encasements, and are subject to extraordinarily limited distribution. Until today, that is.
Cellar Collection Series Volume 5 just hit shelves, and for the first time ever, it’s one that’ll be available nationwide. Before you go rushing out, here’s what you can expect from the ultra-premium bottle.
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Tasting Notes: Angel’s Envy Cellar Collection
First and foremost, the new release is a rye whiskey partially finished for up to a year in extra añejo tequila barrels. And not just any tequila barrels, but French oak casks formerly used to age Patrón—the world’s best-selling top-shelf tequila. The added aging affixes atop the underlying whiskey an unmistakable edge of herbaceous earthiness. There’s eucalyptus in the nose and a clove-like component to the palate, which fits quite nicely against the minty, baking spice elements of well-aged rye.
It’s a bold and balanced composition, one that points to the deftness of its maker, master distiller Owen Martin. Taking on the role in the fall of 2022, this actually stands as the first Cellar Collection unveiled under his watch. Dialing it in involved several trips to Patron’s outsized hacienda in the heart of Jalisco, Mexico.
“As a part of the vision, we collaborated with Patrón’s master distiller, David Rodriguez, to identify a parallel between our production processes,” says Martin. “We are always striving to showcase the unique character of a finishing cask and how it can amplify our base whiskey’s dynamic flavor. This release embodies that particularly well.”
The French oak he wrested from Rodriquez is prized cooperage and not the sort of vessel he's normally inclined to part ways with. It helped, undoubtedly, that Angel’s Envy and Patrón are owned by the same parent company: Bacardi. But beyond corporate synergy, Martin knew he had fan service to consider. This is one of the brand’s most sought-after annual releases, after all. Ultimately, he opted to blend in a 10 percent component of 11-year-old unfinished straight rye to the seven-year-old tequila-finished variant, which forms the lion’s share of the liquid. It brings depth and weight to the 104.2-proof final product.
“This launch is very special to me as the first Cellar Collection innovation for Angel’s Envy that I oversaw from beginning to end,” adds Martin.
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The Price
It’ll be special to longtime fans of the brand as well, who can now snag a bottle more easily than they have in the past. Cellar Collection Series Vol. 5 Straight Rye Whiskey Finished in French Oak Extra Añejo Tequila Barrels is available at retailers nationwide and on ReserveBar at a suggested retail price of $270 per 750ml bottle.