Angel's Envy's Amburana-Finished Bourbon: A Cask Experiment That Misses the Mark
In a review for Robb Report, whiskey expert Jonah Flicker assesses the new Distillery Series bourbon from Angel's Envy, which is finished in stout beer and amburana barrels. This bourbon, aged between six to seven years, utilizes a 40/60 ratio of first-fill and second-fill stout barrels sourced from Trellis Brewing and Goose Island. The stout finishing period varies from six to 24 months, while the amburana finish lasts only one month, making up 1 percent of the blend. Flicker points out that, although the whiskey lacks the usual 'potpourri bomb' traits of amburana, it remains intriguing. It offers earthy scents with hints of cinnamon, chocolate, root beer, and cherry syrup. After several tastings, Flicker decides it is not a whiskey he would choose to drink, and no score was assigned.
Key facts
- Angel's Envy released a new Distillery Series bourbon finished in stout beer and amburana barrels.
- Master distiller Owen Martin created the whiskey, aged for six to seven years.
- Stout barrels came from Trellis Brewing (Louisville) and Goose Island (Chicago), with a 40/60 split between first-fill and second-fill.
- The whiskey spent 6-24 months in stout barrels and only one month in amburana barrels.
- Amburana-finished whiskey makes up just 1% of the final blend.
- The final product is 100-proof and features notes of cinnamon, Hershey's chocolate, root beer, R.C. Cola, licorice, mole, and cherry syrup.
- Critic Jonah Flicker found the whiskey perplexing and not enjoyable, despite appreciating the experimentation.
- The review is part of Flicker's weekly Taste Test column for Robb Report.
- Amburana is a Brazilian wood used for aging cachaça and has been used by other brands like WhistlePig, Penelope Bourbon, Barrell Craft Spirits, Starlight, Rare Character, and Hard Truth.
Entities
Artists
- Jonah Flicker
- Owen Martin
Institutions
- Angel's Envy
- Robb Report
- Trellis Brewing
- Goose Island
- WhistlePig
- Penelope Bourbon
- Barrell Craft Spirits
- Starlight
- Rare Character
- Hard Truth
Locations
- Louisville
- Chicago
- Brazil