These Rare Angel's Envy Whiskeys Are Finally Back on the Market

Angel’s Envy is famous for making cask-finished whiskey—even their base bourbon is finished in port casks. Launched in 2010, they were one of the first American whiskey makers to begin using a secondary finishing process across their entire portfolio, which helped them win over the hearts and minds of whiskey lovers. 

That specialization has also allowed Angel’s Envy to release special edition whiskeys at a quicker pace than other distillers. But it also makes it more difficult for bourbon fans to get their hands on Angel’s Envy releases. As soon as the news hits internet, whiskey lovers race off to the nearest store to pick up the latest limited-edition, special reserve bottling, leaving no surplus in their wake.

One of the most-beloved groups of whiskey contained in Angel’s Envy’s mighty Kentucky warehouses is their Cellar Collection. Four expressions have been released since 2019, which, due to their limited nature, “eluded many fans,” according to Owen Martin, master distiller at Angel’s Envy.

But there’s good news for any who missed out on those first three releases. Angel’s Envy has unveiled the Cellar Collection Series Volumes 1–3, which features the first three bottlings in a single package (you still have to wait on the fourth). Sold as a collection, buyers end up with three 375 ml bottles, one of each of the following whiskeys: 

• Angel’s Envy Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Oloroso Sherry Casks (100-proof; 50% ABV) offers sweet aromas of raisin and hazelnut on the nose. The oak-forward palate showcases a distinct dryness from the sherry, and finishes with a shift from sweetness to lingering floral.
• Angel’s Envy Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Tawny Port Wine Barrels (111.6-proof; 55.8% ABV) boasts a nose of dry fruit and oak. Pepper, toasted nuts, delicate cinnamon spice burst on the palate, followed by a light, lingering finish reminiscent of dried fruit dipped in dark chocolate.
• Angel’s Envy Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Madeira Casks (100-proof; 50% ABV) features aromas of caramelized banana, brown sugar, freshly baked raisins, almonds, and faint cherry notes on the nose. The palate is rich with toasted oak, grass, smoke, leather, chocolate, and dried cherries, culminating in a finish with hints of almonds and hazelnuts.

The Collection comes encased in packaging reminiscent of premium books, and Angel’s Envy recommends enjoying all of the whiskeys neat. “The Cellar Collection Series provides a tasting experience by comparing and contrasting the fortified wine finishes of these special whiskeys side-by-side,” says Martin.

The Cellar Collection Series Volumes 1–3 is now available in limited quantities at select retailers across the U.S. at a suggested retail price of $400. Consumers can also visit the Angel’s Envy Distillery in Louisville, KY to buy directly.

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