In December 2023, Angel's Envy Distillery released two new limited additions to its Cask Strength offering — a rye finished in Sauternes and toasted oak casks and a bourbon finished in ruby port casks. We visited the distillery in Louisville, Kentucky, and caught up with master distiller Owen Martin to learn more about these new releases, his whiskey-creation philosophy, and the special finishing casks used to craft these fantastic spirits.
Watch our interview with Owen and our tasting of the Cask Strength 2023 releases here.
Angel's Envy 2023 Cask Strength Rye is the brand's first time releasing a limited-edition rye whiskey at cask strength, and just 5,500 bottles have been made available for purchase. Owen put a special touch on this release by blending barrels of two rye whiskeys – one finished in Sauternes casks and the other finished in toasted oak barrels. This limited-edition Cask Strength Rye falls under Angel's Envy's highly acclaimed Cask Strength programme and comes in a newly designed glass bottle.
The limited-edition annual Angel's Envy Cask Strength Bourbon has just 22,656 bottles available at select retailers in all 50 US states, including the Angel's Envy Distillery in downtown Louisville. This year’s expression marks the first Cask Strength release from master distiller Owen Martin, and it also features the brand-new bottle design. Each year, as part of the distillery's Cask Strength programme, the Angel's Envy team selects noteworthy barrels from its rickhouses to put through an extended finishing process in port wine barrels from Portugal. These special barrels bring forward distinct characteristics in the whiskey, giving each expression of Angel's Envy Cask Strength a unique nose, palate, and finish.
