Review of the Angel's Envy Distillery Tour - Heaven on Earth

 The most recent edition to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail is the newly opened Angel's Envy Distillery, located in downtown Louisville Kentucky.

 A vision of the late Lincoln Henderson, the Angel’s Envy Distillery was to be the location for his collaborative work alongside his son - post-retirement as Brown-Foreman’s Master Distiller.  A few years after his passing, his son Wes kept the vision alive.  With the help of Kevin Curtis, the Distillery’s Operations Manager and close friend of the Henderson family, the vision has now become a reality.

 

As you tour the facility, visitors get to experience both the traditional process of whiskey making as well as state-of-the-art technology all wrapped into one. And even though the distillery is one of the newest to open their doors to the public, Angles Envy is still able to keep the Kentucky bourbon heritage sacred through the legacy of Lincoln's vision and his impact in the industry.

 

 Tours begin in the beautiful visitor’s center stocked with plenty of their namesake bourbon and rum cask finished rye.  Visitors see the distillation process from the beginning to the end including stops at the fermenting tank, the bottling warehouse, and areas where they go into greater detail about the unique process of aging Angel’s Envy in used port barrels.  We had an excellent tour guide who let us in on a few secrets.  They will soon be kicking off their barrel selection process and visitors will also be able to fill their own bottles without even doing the full tour (will it be at barrel proof???).  They finish the tour at the beautiful distillery bar where you get to sample the products fruit of the distillery’s labor.  Currently, the tour offers only bourbon but they initiate the tasting using chocolate to highlight the notes in the whisky.

 

I don’t want to share too much because just like all the distilleries, I highly encourage everyone to visit, experience and enjoy the unique features and characteristics each one has to offer.  

This is a great addition to the trail. I can see this distillery maturing and getting better and better.  It is just blocks away from other great whisky attractions and spots for lunch.  Definitely worth a visit.

Located at 500 E. Main St. Louisville, Kentucky 40

202

Tours take around one hour and cost $15.00 per person.  10 spots maximum per tour

Limited to a number of visitors a day for touring, it's well worth the wait to get in.  Just be sure to book a reservation through their website before arriving at the doorstep.   

Tours are by reservation only, which can be booked through their website or through the link below.

             https://store.angelsenvy.com/?_ga=1.257768584.201643316.1479759382

Visitor Center, Tours & Gift Shop Hours

Tours are held on the hour with the last tour starting at 4 pm

Monday | 10-5
Tuesday | 10-5*
*No Distillery tours on Tuesdays
Wednesday | 10-5
Thursday | 10-5
Friday | 10-5
Saturday | 10-5
Sunday | 1-5

NOTE** This is a working distillery so no high-heels ladies or open-toes shoes.  

                            They are making delicious whiskey for us to enjoy!

News Release - Angel's Envy Opens Doors to Their Full Production Distillery

ANGEL'S ENVY™ PUBLICLY UNVEILS FIRST

FULL-PRODUCTION DISTILLERY AND VISITOR CENTER

IN DOWNTOWN LOUISVILLE ON SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19

Reservations for Guided Tours Now Being Accepted Online

 

Louisville, Kentucky (November 16, 2016) - Angel's Envy™, the super-premium Kentucky Straight bourbon whiskey of uncompromising character and quality, will officially open its new distillery and visitor center to the public for guided tours beginning Saturday, November 19. Online reservations, which are required, are now being accepted at www.angelsenvy.com. Admission is $15 per person and includes a tasting.

 

Located at 500 E. Main Street at Jackson, (the former Vermont American and Baer Fabrics Warehouse), the new state-of-the-art facility is the first full-production whiskey distillery in downtown Louisville. Having completed a $27 million renovation since breaking ground in 2013, the brand home center houses the Angel’s Envy distillery operations (including everything from milling of grains to blending and bottling on site), as well as a visitor center and gift shop. From the exterior walls to the vaulted ceilings and arched windows, their architects worked diligently to preserve every possible feature of the original building. Their breathtaking, one-of-a-kind 35-foot-tall column still, pot still and doubler were sourced locally from Vendome Copper & Brass Works—just four blocks away. 

 

The small batch artisan bourbon is the culmination of the late Master Distiller Lincoln Henderson's storied career. Each of the brand’s three current expressions (flagship Angel’s Envy Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey finished in Port Wine Barrels, Angel’s Envy Cask Strength and Angel’s Envy Rye finished in hand-selected Caribbean rum casks), exhibit his passion for experimenting outside of conventional norms by producing unique whiskey steeped in tradition, but finished with a twist.

 

“Opening the Angel’s Envy distillery and visitor’s center in downtown Louisville was a dream Dad (Lincoln Henderson) and I had,” said Wes Henderson, Co-founder/Chief Innovation Officer, Louisville Distilling Company. “He would be so proud of what we’ve accomplished in such a short amount of time. My sons and I proudly carry on his legacy. The distillery is a must-see experience.”

“We are delighted that Angel’s Envy chose downtown Louisville for its new distillery and visitor center,” said Louisville Mayor, Greg Fischer. “It is evident that Angel’s Envy is not only committed to quality craftsmanship, but also the greater Louisville community.”

The Angel’s Envy distillery and visitor center will be open for tours every Monday and Wednesday through Saturday from 10:00am – 5:00pm, and every Sunday, from 1:00 – 5:00pm. Tours will not be available on Tuesdays.

 

For more information, please visit us at www.angelsenvy.com or on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AngelsEnvyBourbon and twitter https://twitter.com/Angels_Envy (@angels_envy).

 

The ANGEL’S ENVY™ brand is part of the portfolio of Bacardi Limited, headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda. Bacardi Limited refers to the Bacardi group of companies, including Bacardi International Limited.

 

Angel’s Envy™ is a proud member of the Kentucky Distiller’s Association (KDA)

 

Angel’s Envy™ 2016. Heaven Can Wait. Please Drink Responsibly.

Whiskey Review of Baker's Bourbon - A Jim Beam Small Batch Collection

The Jim Beam Small Batch collection.  We all know it.  We all love it.  I was introduced to this Kentucky fixture as soon as I arrived to Lexington in the late 90s.  There is nothing better for a rookie in the whiskey drinking business than a sample pack of 4 bourbons from a world famous distiller in beautiful packaging!  

There is no need to say this but I am no longer a rookie.  Not only do I drink the brown water with friends, discuss tasting notes with my mom and dad but I also thoroughly enjoy writing about it.  All this “tasting” can sometimes take you away from the standards which enjoy a consistent flavor and a true following of bourbon lovers.  I like to take a step back from the newest-bottles-to-market on occasion and re-visit the classics and marvel at the consistency and beauty of how these whiskies are crafted.  

Today we discuss 25% of the Small Batch Collection – Baker’s.  Named after Baker Beam, the cousin of Booker – the brand’s Master Distiller.  Baker’s remains a standby in the industry while still sporting an age stamp of 7 years and rolling in at a perfect 107 proof.  The mashbill of Baker’s is 73% corn and 13% rye.  

Noted for it’s consistency, smooth & silky texture and full-bodied flavors, Baker’s tastes today as it always has.  On the nose you get strong notes of citrus accented by orange marmalade and lemon.  The aromas quickly lead to hearty flavors of ripe banana and warm buttered bread.  Drinking this bourbon is reminiscent of cracking into a crusty loaf of fresh baked bread straight from the oven. 

The palate develops herbal notes of cardamom and allspice.  As we tasted, we noted flavors of metal (we all taste something different) and a few comments on the smoothness but lacking of the rich flavor of a typical 7 year bourbon. 

Finally, the subtle sweetness of rye, blackberry and black cherry form on the back of the palate leading to a soft, almost mouth numbing finish thanks to the higher proof.  

As you can tell from this article, there are multitudes of flavors at every level of this whiskey- a true mark of a well-crafted spirit.  Each of us found different notes to consider.  This is certainly an easy daily drinker and worth a re-visit if you haven’t had the chance in some time.    

Average Price - $40 - 49.99

http://www.bakersbourbon.com/ 

https://www.beamsuntory.com/brands/bakers 

 

The Bold and the Beautiful Review of the Limited Edition Booker's Rye Whiskey

Once the announcement was made that Jim Beam was going to produce the first 13 year old, barrel proof rye under the Booker’s label, my initial (much like everyone reading this) was “Gotta have it” & “When is the release?”  This is of course based on my undying love for rye at this stage of my affair with whiskey paired with a deep respect and appreciation for the quality of the Booker’s bourbon.  Periodic releases at varying proof create uniqueness to the Booker’s bourbon.  Each time a new batch is released, we are able to experience distinct flavors developed over the 6-8 years it took to mature.  Something that may never again be replicated.  The bourbon is further elevated through un-cut, non chill-filtered bottling.  There are no indications that this will be copied with the Booker’s rye so take this opportunity to sample a treasure of the whiskey world.  

This bold rye coming in at 136.2 proof is a tribute to Booker Noe.  Mr. Noe originated the small batch collection under the Jim Beam moniker and before his passing personally selected these bottlings – initially only for friends and family.  In the early 90’s, he let the public in on a secret – the true essence of bourbon comes straight from the barrel.   As you know, this will be a much sought limited edition package.  The retail price hovers around $300 if you are able to track it down.  Let me describe to you in the following notes why it is worth the search – even if just for a sample.  

Nose – wet wood.  I recall a time that I had the opportunity to visit a distillery on my dad’s birthday.  We watched them dump a barrel and the smell was one of those memories I hope to never forget.  This nose reminded me of that perfect moment.  The aroma was so strong that after it was poured, the waft was so tempting that I just couldn’t wait for the first sip.  

Color – unique and almost blood red.  The 13+ years of contact this juice had with the wood really imparted a beautiful color and deep maple syrup hue

1^st Sip (straight) – immediate flavor bomb.  I was tasting notes that I had never experienced before in a rye.  I was trying to write as fast as possible.  The full flavored and rich whiskey engulfs your entire mouth with flavors of baked bread and unripe red fruits.  The flavors are complex.  Simultaneously, your mind is telling you that you want to sense sweetness but there are so many savory qualities to this drink.  As the whiskey breathes, you get notes of baked fruit accented with herbal notes of sage and thyme.  The finish is long with a bitter finale.  

2^nd drink (added a small ice cube) – when you add water or ice to this beauty, it opens like your summer garden.  The nose exposes sweet red berries and now you are really getting the sense of the sugars of the oak.  The palate is extraordinarily long.  The lowered proof is softened to sour cherry, burnt bread and caramelized sugar with a final punch of cracked black pepper.

It is crucial to enjoy this beautiful spirit first without ice – exactly how Mr Noe intended.  Then, I suggest nothing but the smallest of ice cubes to see how the flavors and the intricate nature of this rye evolve.  Enjoy!

Where to find it:  Good Luck!

http://www.bookersbourbon.com/