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!

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/ 

 

Flavor in Basil Country - Review of Basil Hayden Bourbon

Normally, I shy away from low ABV bourbons and whiskies but recently I discovered that not all juice should be judged on ABV alone.  

With the lowest ABV that Beam currently distributes, Basil Hayden is and always has been quite a bourbon that would surprise even the biggest bourbon aficionados.  At just 80 proof, Basil Hayden is the lightest bourbon whiskey in this small batch family but still manages to carry an interesting and flavorful palate.

The Basil Hayden bourbon brand was introduced in 1992 and is named after Basil Hayden, Sr.  Hayden Sr. was a distiller, and he used a larger amount of rye in his mash than other bourbons of his day.  Later, Hayden's grandson Raymond B. Hayden founded a distillery in Nelson County and named his label "Old Grand-Dad", in honor of his grandfather, which bears a rendering of Basil Sr.'s likeness.

Unlike the traditional Jim Beam low-rye mashbill, Basil Hayden has a higher-rye recipe (27%) and is the same whiskey that goes into bottles of Old Grand-Dad. (see our review of Old Grand-Dad 114)  The only difference between the two is how long they slept.  Basil Hayden is older and has a lower proof – depending on which version of OGD you pick up.  With the absence of an age stamp on both labels, consumers are left to distinguish the level of maturity using their keen sense of tasting.  The BH label was updated in 2014 to reflect “artfully aged” rather than the traditional dating.  It is common thought that this liquid is approximately 8 years old.  Other brands have since done this as well (demand, supply etc.), but no specific reason was found for Basil Hayden.  Beam claims the mash used that the Basil Hayden we know today is similar to the original mash used by Hayden himself in his original recipe. 

With the growing popularity of American Whiskey, Basil Hayden has stayed strong on the shelves and is usually available.  It is artfully designed and typically lines the shelves with its small batch mates in the Beam SB family. 

Tasting Notes:

The color mimics that classic bourbon hue – golden and similar to that of a light maple syrup. 

The nose leans to the herbal side with mint and dried sage.  Maybe it was me or because of the name but I also got some basil(?)

The juice is very buttery with warm spices. A very soft, smooth front of cinnamon and hints of pecans.  Not much of a bite here.  For those looking for an easy drinker – this is your dram.    
The finish has a lighter presence then one would think with a higher rye.  It certainly does not linger on the palate for any period of time.  The balanced mash bill lends to perfect drinkability and is a good example of a daily drinker. 

Final Sip:

Basil Hayden is a great dram for many occasions and for a variety of palates.  I try to keep multiple bottles around so I can share with those who aren’t ready to adventure into higher proof bourbons yet still want to enjoy a good whiskey. 

I would highly suggest drinking it neat and suggesting others to do so as well.  This also helps newcomers to learn how to drink bourbon the right way.  

 

Region: Kentucky, USA
Distiller: Jim Beam
Mashbill: 63% Corn, 27% Rye, 10% Malted Barley


ABV: 40%
Price: $39 - $53

Sources:  

http://www.basilhaydens.com/ 

https://www.beamsuntory.com/ 

 * - Photo taken from open source of the web

 

Review of Town Branch Single Barrel, Barrel Proof - Hitting the Bung Square on the Head

Located right in my backyard is the Lexington based bourbon and brewing company called Alltech Lexington Brewing & Distilling.  In the whisk(e)y industry, they are known for such products as Town Branch Whiskey, Town Branch Rye, a bourbon-infused coffee liqueur, and Pearse Lyons Reserve malt whiskey. 


With the latest trend in the bourbon market, many distilleries are putting out cask strength or barrel proof bourbon whiskey.  And so if the people ask for it, then you should supply them with it.  The inaugural Town Branch Single Barrel collection was bottled as non-chill filtered and at cask strength. Six, six-year-old barrels were selected for bottling for the first batch and are only for retail at the Alltech Lexington Brewing and Distilling Co., located in the heart of downtown Lexington, KY.

The new single barrel expression came out early last year and it has made it's mark locally.  Alltech never distributed the juice so one would have to visit their distillery to sample and buy a bottle.  About 150 bottles came from each of the first two barrels and late last year, I was told they were putting out 6. 


See link below for barrel tasting from from local help.

https://videopress.com/v/Hr8YJNNk

Tasting notes:

 Strong vanilla and floral notes, and almost candy-like toffee notes.  Very smooth and rich in flavor. 

With their regular line-up only being being bottled at 80 proof, there is definitely going to be a difference in taste and feel once someone ties the barrel proof.

If your on the Bourbon Trail, it's worth stopping by and visiting the Town Branch Distillery and hopefully they will have a bottle or two left.  I bought four for my self. 





Retail Price - $80.00 -Very limited supply

Updated Review of Black Dirt Single Barrel Bourbon Batch #5 - Black Dirt Distilling

So why Black Dirt? The Black Dirt Distillery takes its name from the dark, fertile soil left by an ancient glacial lake that once covered thousands of acres of upstate New York known as the Drowned Lands. Because of these natural occurrence, the perfect condition was developed for growing the main ingredient that all American whiskeys needs, corn. 

The history of Black Dirt Distilling, LLC’s origin is not as short as some may think.  The original distillery goes back to 2002 when the first micro-distillery was formed in New York called Warwick Valley Winery & Distillery.  Founded by Jeremy Kidde and Jason Grizzanti, these two men had a plan to do more then what just one distillery could do.  Jump a few years ahead, in March, 2012 Jason and Jeremy formed the Black Dirt Distilling, LLC.  This addition was birthed out of the recent bourbon boom and the high demand for fine bourbon and whiskey outside the bourbon trail.  In order to meet this demand, the Black Dirt Distillery commissioned a 4,000 square foot distillery along with a 60 foot distillation column which was completed in Pine Island, NY in 2013.  Currently they are producing bourbon, gin, and brandy from these two distilleries.  The current batches of bourbon that can be purchased and what was reviewed was aged and bottled at the Valley Winery & Distillery.

Having the title as the first mirco-distillery in New York State, Warwick Valley Winery & Distillery / Black Dirt Distilling is growing by name and volume through their years of experience in both distillation and marketing.  They are making a name for themselves by making and bottling their own product from the beginning unlike many mirco-distilleries who purchase whiskey to help generate revenue.

 Mash Bill of Batch 005:

Aged a minimum of 3 years in new charred American Oak at 45% Alc / vol - 90 proof
Char level 3
Distilled from:
80% Black Dirt grown corn,
12% Malted Barley
8% Rye

Nose: Aroma of sweet caramel, vanilla and honey

Taste: Smooth up front.  Has a oily layer through out your tongue

Finish: Bitter in the back and lingers for a moment.

Final Thoughts:



For such a young bourbon, both in age and in production, I give a lot of credit to a company that is not buying their product from the larger distilleries throughout the United States.  With the sudden boom in the whiskey business in the past couple of years and many mirco distillers opening up, its hard not to buy barrels of whiskey to get cash flowing in.




Featuring a single barrel expression this quickly in one’s business plan is a risky move in the bourbon business. However, being able to say that it's your own gives a distillery more credit than most would think.




Overall, the bourbon is too young to develop much depth of flavor and characteristics you would come across in older whiskeys.  However, that's not the story here.  The heart of this tale is the depth of history which surrounds it.  From their founder, Jason Grizzanti who holds a fruit science degree, to the location of their sweet corn in the unique fertile ground where once stood an ancient glacial lake.  These are the blocks that build a great foundation for what could be an impactful distillery in the North East.  In order to build something that will sustain the sands of time, a good foundation must be laid.  Black Dirt has laid that foundation and we look forward to what the years ahead have to offer. 



Retail Price 750 ml size:

$40 - $47.99

Where to Buy:

Buy online at Astor Wines or Drink Up NY

Website: Black Dirt Distillery

Facebook: Black Dirt