Angel's Envy Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Port Wine Barrels
Angel's Envy Kentucky Straight Bourbon is a 750mL port-finished bourbon, bottled at 43.3% ABV (86.6 proof) and typically aged up to 6 years. Distilled in Louisville, Kentucky, it is finished for 3 to 6 months in ruby port wine casks — 60-gallon French oak barrels imported directly from Portugal — giving it a distinctive reddish-amber hue and a silky, fruit-driven profile unlike any other Kentucky bourbon.
Angel's Envy was co-founded in 2010 by the late Master Distiller Lincoln Henderson and his son Wes Henderson. Henderson spent some 40 years at Brown-Forman, where he created Woodford Reserve and Gentleman Jack, was an inaugural Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame inductee, and received Malt Advocate's Lifetime Achievement Award — and Angel's Envy was his first and only independent project. The name honors the portion of every barrel lost to evaporation each year, the so-called "angel's share."
Each small batch is blended twice — once before and once after secondary finishing — in runs of just 8 to 12 barrels. The result pours a gold laced with reddish amber, nearly copper. Official tasting notes describe a nose of subtle vanilla, raisins, maple syrup and toasted nuts; a palate of vanilla, ripe fruit, maple syrup, toast and bitter chocolate; and a clean, lingering finish with a hint of Madeira that slowly fades.
Why buy Angel's Envy? Wine Enthusiast awarded this bourbon 98 points out of 100 — described in brand communications as the highest rating ever given to a bourbon — and Beverage Industry News named it an Editor's Pick Award of Excellence. It is one of the defining bottles of the finished-bourbon movement and an ideal gift for anyone exploring whiskey beyond traditional oak-only finishes.
Serve neat or over one large ice cube to highlight the port-barrel sweetness. It also elevates a Manhattan or an Old Fashioned, where the port finish adds a deep, wine-like layer.
FAQs
What is Angel's Envy finished in? Ruby port wine casks — 60-gallon French oak barrels imported from Portugal — for 3 to 6 months after its initial aging in new charred oak.
How strong is Angel's Envy bourbon? It is bottled at 43.3% ABV (86.6 proof).
Who founded Angel's Envy? Master Distiller Lincoln Henderson (creator of Woodford Reserve and Gentleman Jack) co-founded it with his son Wes Henderson in 2010.
Is Angel's Envy a good gift bourbon? Yes — its port finish, small-batch blending, and 98-point Wine Enthusiast score make it a standout gift for bourbon drinkers.
