Bourbon: Angel's Envy

Angel's Envy is a new small-batch Kentucky straight bourbon, and it's finished in Port barrels, so expect something a bit different from your usual oak barrel-aged whiskey. Crafted by master distiller Lincoln Henderson (himself a legend in the bourbon world as creator of Woodford Reserve and Old Forester) in Lexington, KY, Angel's Envy is available in finer spirit shops nationally.  It's 86.6 proof (or 43.3% ABV) and retails for around $44.99 per 750mL bottle. Thanx to Aaron at Ro-Bro for the sampling consideration!

I tasted this one under a couple of conditions, noted below. First, the appearance of Angel's Envy is quite light, being a sandy tan/brown/amber.

First, I tasted this one straight, at room temperature. The aroma was warm and spicy, with notes of oak and a hint of fruit. Tasted smooth going down, with tones of spice, wood, and some dark fruit (albeit so very subtle). Finish was a typical whiskey burn, and more of that subtle fruit. Very nice!

Next tasting I did was with some ice cubes. Again, straight with no additional water or mixer. The chill brought out the bourbon's dryness, and muted some of the complexities. I got sweeter tones, and even a touch of honey in this tasting.

It's easy to see that this is a premium bourbon with texture and nuance, and it's certainly worth a try for any serious bourbon fan. Highly recommended!

Angel's Envy site

Beer: Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Stout

Lexington, Kentucky's Alltech Brewing (terrible name) has been responsible for one of my favorite bourbon barrel aged ales, Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale. When I saw a new variation in their lineup, I had to try it. And I'm glad I did.

Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Stout is, as the name states, a dark ale aged in bourbon barrels. It's also aged with Haitian coffee, so it's an exotic treat already! Pours a deep, opaque black with ruby highlights. Fair head with tan bubbles, but very little lace. Nose is roasty coffee. I don't sense much of the oak barrels here, but as I love coffee, this is still pretty damned nice.

Taste is definitely coffee-dominant, with an aftertaste/finish that shows a bit of the bourbon whiskey character. This is really a nice, easy-drinking brew to sip (it's a stiff 8% ABV), and a must-try for coffee-beer fans. And it's a much more affordable (at $12-14 per 4 pk.) option for Bourbon County Barrel Stout fans. I'll buy this one again, for certain.

Alltech (aka Kentucky Ale) site

Beer: Widmer's Brrrbon '12 & Boulevard's Rye-On-Rye

In the craft beer world, aging in oak whiskey, bourbon, or wine barrels is a kind of trend, it seems. Hints of vanilla, wood, and subtle fruity characters can be added via this method. In the spirit of "beer themes", here are a couple of limited releases recently tasted at Goatsden that utilize this "barrel aging" process.

WIDMER BROTHERS (Portland,OR) - BARREL AGED BRRRBON '12 - 3.5

Widmer's always been a solid brand, and even though they are co-owned by corporate beer monoliths (AB/InBev), I still find myself enjoying most of their line. This limited 9.4% ABV beast is aged in Kentucky bourbon barrels, and is comparable to the better-known Alltech Brewing Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale, which has been enjoyed many, many times here at Goatsden HQ. Here's my take on this big beer.

Pours a rich amber, with limited head of carbonation, and not much noticeable lacing. Nose is some vanilla and oak. Taste is rich and sweetly malty, but I don't get much of the vanilla-like bourbon tones. The finish does showcase the warm whiskey character, though. 

This one's not bad, though perhaps a tad high on the price ($14.99/bomber).

BOULEVARD BREWING (Kansas City, MO) - RYE-ON-RYE - 3.5

Part of Kansas City craft beer legends Boulevard's limited edition, premium "Smokestack Series", Rye-On-Rye is an exquisite corked bomber of very strong but unique beer aged in rye whiskey barrels.

Pours a murky, ruddy red-amber. Very sudsy, but little head visible. Carbonation continues to bubble as the glass warms. Odd and unusual. Nose is unique -- I get wet wood, some fruitiness, butter, and toffee. Not that it's bad, just an unusual combination, again. Flavor is fruits/berries and some toffee -- sweet and somehow wine-like. I don't detect much of the rye whiskey barrel, though, as this one just seems more of a fruit-oriented champagne style. 

It's quite easy to drink, and especially with the very deceptive 13% ABV. 

Overall, certainly a memorable and genre-busting brew.