The 9th edition of Angel Envy Cask Strength is a stunner in and out of the box.
The Story
Over the years Angel Envy Cask Strength has had its fair share of awards and accolades. Including being named the “best spirit in the world” by F. Paul Pacult’s Spirit Journal in 2013 and then receiving its highest rating of "five stars" in 2015. This is something Angel Envy proudly states on their website and includes in every press release I've ever seen for their annual cask strength releases .
However, over the past several years Angel Envy's Cask Strength has been hit-or-miss depending on who you ask. That hasn't stopped it from being one of the most sought after bourbons/whiskeys on the market every year, even with its super premium $199 price tag. Personally speaking, it's a unicorn bottle that I've been in search of going back to 2015.
This year's Cask Strength release is Angel Envy's ninth edition and marks the first time it's been allocated across all 50 states in the US. I was shocked when I saw it listed for $230 on a trusted online retailer's website. That's by no means inexpensive, but I was happy to have my five year hunt for a bottle come to an end.
This year's Cask Strength release is Angel Envy's ninth edition and marks the first time it's been allocated across all 50 states in the US.
The first thing I noticed about Angel Envy Cask Strength is the quality of its specialty box. It feels like real hardwood and the engraving is beautifully done from front to back. But as nice as the specialty box is, if it lowered the price by say $50 to forgo the box, I'd happily just take the bottle.
Tasting Notes
Nose: The nose is absolutely out of this world. You can almost feel it coming out of the glass. It's full of rich fruit notes with an abundance of vanilla and caramel. The experience is 100% intoxicating.
Palate and Finish: I'm going to go ahead and tell you now that the palate does not deliver the same experience as the nose. This expression of Angel Envy Cask Strength is a big and bold bourbon. You can feel every bit of its 120.4 proof statement and that means it's not going to be for everyone. By comparison a standard bottle of Angel Envy is only 86.6 proof. That's a pretty big jump up the alcohol-by-volume ladder for just about anyone.
The intensity of Angel Envy Cask Strength's palate reminds me of experiences I've had with recent releases of Stagg Jr. and Elijah Craig Full Proof. It has big bold tasting notes that hit aggressively and can leave you shaking your head in disbelief. If that doesn't sound like your idea of a good time, then sadly this isn't the bottle for you my friend. If you're someone who thoroughly enjoys higher proof bourbons, then the 2020 edition of Angel Envy Cask Strength is absolutely for you.
Upfront the palate is dominated by strong notes of dark fruits and tart cherry, followed by orange caramel notes in the mid palate. The finish is where things get interesting. It has a citrusy note that turns into a robust Red Hots candy experience that coats your tongue. It's honestly delicious, but it takes a couple of pours to get acclimated to the intensity of the heat.
The intensity of Angel Envy Cask Strength's palate reminds me of experiences I've had with recent releases of Stagg Jr. and Elijah Craig Full Proof.
As a whole, the 2020 release of Angel Envy's Cask Strength is an amazing bourbon. If you like big, bold, and intense whiskey experiences this bottle delivers in every way. In fact this 2020 edition of Angel Envy Cask Strength is without a doubt one of my favorite bottles from an absolute hellish year.
Final Score: 350 out of 379 Kentucky Miles (stunning bourbon experience, but expensive)
2020 Angel Envy Cask Strength Photo Gallery
Thank you for sharing this fascinating and super detailed review. The photos are excellent and gave me an additional appreciation for the 2020 Angel Envy Cask Strength. It seems to be super limited, and with the shipping restrictions here in Georgia, this will be a bottle that most people have to look for when they are out of state. I doubt that the usual stores will have frequent access to this bottle. You have presented a lot of detail that will help the reader to prepare for the experience once they are lucky to have it in their procession. The tasting details are beneficial. Thank you again for this excellent review.