Angel’s Envy is a pioneer in the category of cask-finished American whiskey. Since it was founded in 2010, the distillery’s core bourbon has always been aged for about four to six years before being finished for six months in port barrels. The 2024 edition of the annual cask-strength release, however, changes up the formula: For the first time, Angel’s Envy used two different types of port barrels for its secondary maturation, and we have the details.

This year makes the 13th release of Angel’s Envy Cask Strength Bourbon, and the second under master distiller Owen Martin’s watch. He got the job two years ago in the fall of 2022, and was also part of the team responsible for the excellent new Triple Oak release. Normally, the spirit is finished in ruby port barrels, but for this year’s expression, a portion of whiskey finished in tawny port barrels was included in the blend as well. That might sound like a minor tweak, but the two styles of port are very different. Ruby port is generally younger, fruitier, and sweeter, often spending time in metal tanks; tawny port is older and matured in wooden casks to give it notes of tannin, nuts, and vanilla. According to the brand, the new tawny port finish brings a mellow character to the bourbon along with oak and toffee notes, while the traditional ruby port finish adds nutty, caramelized fruit flavors.