Angel's Envy Cask Strength Port Wine Barrel Finish 2018

124.5 proof. Port barrel finished. The 2018 annual release of Angel's Envy Cask Strength — cask strength, uncut, from the same ruby port wine barrel finishing program that Lincoln Henderson created when he founded Angel's Envy at age 74.

Lincoln Henderson was one of the most significant figures in American bourbon — 40 years at Brown-Forman, creator of Woodford Reserve and Gentleman Jack, and at age 74, founder of Angel's Envy Distillery in Louisville with his son Wes. Henderson's defining innovation was finishing Kentucky straight bourbon in 60-gallon ruby port wine barrels from Portugal, adding a layer of dried fruit, dark chocolate, and sweetness that no unfinished bourbon achieves. He passed away in 2013; the program is now carried forward by Wes Henderson and the distillery team he built.

The Cask Strength annual release delivers the port-finished bourbon at natural barrel proof — where the standard Angel's Envy is bottled at 86.6 proof after dilution, the Cask Strength is the same port-barrel program at full intensity. The 2018 at 124.5 proof is in the mid-range of the Cask Strength series (2014 ran at various proofs depending on barrel selection). Each vintage reflects a different barrel selection and natural proof; the 2018 joins the 2014 and 2015 vintages already in the Wooden Cork inventory as part of a growing Angel's Envy CS vertical.

Tasting Notes

• Appearance: Deep amber with the characteristic ruby port tint from the Portuguese wine barrel finishing.
• Nose: Dark cherry, dried plum, caramel, and vanilla — the port barrel influence amplified by 124.5 proof cask strength delivery.
• Palate: Rich and concentrated — dried fruit, dark chocolate, warm bourbon sweetness, and port-derived complexity at natural barrel proof.
• Finish: Long and warming — the port-finished character persisting through a satisfying, multi-layered close.

Specs

• Distillery: Angel's Envy Distillery, Louisville, Kentucky
• Style: Port Barrel Finished Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Finishing: Ruby port wine barrels, Portugal
• Proof: 124.5 (62.25% ABV)
• Bottling: Cask strength, no dilution
• Release: 2018 Annual Cask Strength
• Size: 750ml

Explore the full Angel's Envy collection or browse all bourbon at Wooden Cork.

Frequently Asked Questions

• How does the 2018 compare to the 2014 and 2015 vintages? Each Angel's Envy Cask Strength vintage reflects a different barrel selection at its natural proof. The 2014 and 2015 are founding-era releases from before the series reached peak collector demand. The 2018 at 124.5 proof is a more recent vintage — still a limited annual release but from a higher-production era. Together with the 2014 and 2015 in Wooden Cork's inventory, they represent three of the most collectable Angel's Envy CS vintages available.
• Why is port barrel finishing significant? Ruby port wine barrels impart dried fruit, dark cherry, plum, and natural sweetness complementary to bourbon's caramel base. Lincoln Henderson's specific use of ruby port (vs tawny or LBV) produces a distinctive dried fruit and chocolate profile that no unfinished bourbon achieves.
• How does 124.5 proof compare to other Angel's Envy CS vintages? Angel's Envy CS proof varies annually based on barrel selection — ranging roughly from high teens to mid-120s. At 124.5, the 2018 is in the higher range of the series.
• Is the 2018 Cask Strength still available? A rare find — now several years from its original release.