Kentucky Straight Whiskey Angel's Envy Bourbon

Angel's Envy is a Kentucky straight bourbon bottled at 43.3% ABV, and what sets it apart from most bourbons on the shelf is its finishing step. After maturing as straight bourbon, it spends additional time in port wine barrels. Expect that second stage to add a soft, fruit-leaning layer on top of the traditional bourbon base. Bourbon of this type usually shows caramel, vanilla and toasted oak from the charred new-oak barrel. A port finish typically adds dark fruit, raisin or plum notes and a gentle, rounded sweetness. A little baking spice and a light trace of cocoa are also common in finished expressions like this. Neat is the best way to find out what the finish contributes. Pour about an ounce and a half into a Glencairn glass. Its tapered bowl concentrates the aroma, so you can pick out the vanilla and oak first and then the fruit underneath. Take a small first sip to adjust to the proof. Then try a few drops of room-temperature water, which loosens the aromas and softens the alcohol without muting the fruit. At this strength the whiskey is relatively gentle, so a single large rock in a rocks glass is a reasonable alternative. Chilling it will tighten the sweetness and bring the oak and spice forward. If you want the fruit character to stay in front, keep the ice to a minimum. In cocktails, the port influence makes this a good fit for an Old Fashioned. A sugar cube or a small measure of demerara syrup, two dashes of Angostura and an orange peel work well with the dark-fruit side. You can keep the sugar light, since the whiskey already has some sweetness. A Manhattan is another strong option: sweet vermouth and bitters pair naturally with the wine-barrel character, and a brandied cherry reinforces it. In a Whiskey Sour, the lemon cuts the sweetness and the fruit adds depth. Add egg white if you want a silkier texture. For a long drink, a highball with chilled soda and a lemon twist shows off the bourbon's aromatics without much else getting in the way. At the table, try it with roasted pork, smoked cheddar, dark chocolate or pecan-based desserts. All of these echo the caramel, oak and fruit notes this style tends to show.