Angel’s Envy Cask Strength 2014

Cask strength. Port barrel finished. The 2014 annual release of Angel's Envy Cask Strength — one of the earliest vintages in the label's acclaimed annual program. Natural barrel proof, no dilution, from the same port barrel finishing program that made Angel's Envy the defining premium finished bourbon of the modern era.

Angel's Envy was founded by Master Distiller Lincoln Henderson — a legend in American bourbon who spent 40 years at Brown-Forman and is widely credited with creating Woodford Reserve and Gentleman Jack before founding his own distillery with his son Wes Henderson at age 74. Henderson's signature innovation was finishing Louisville bourbon in 60-gallon ruby port wine barrels from Portugal, adding a layer of dried fruit, sweetness, and complexity that no unfinished bourbon achieves. Angel's Envy transformed the finishing category in American bourbon.

The Cask Strength annual release takes the same port-finished Kentucky straight bourbon and delivers it at natural barrel proof without dilution — where the standard 86.6 proof expression is designed for approachable daily drinking, the Cask Strength is the same program at full intensity. Each annual release varies in proof depending on the specific barrel selection. The 2014 is among the earliest vintages in this series, predating the peak demand years that made Angel's Envy Cask Strength one of the most anticipated annual bourbon releases.

Tasting Notes

• Appearance: Deep amber with a ruby tint from the port barrel finishing.
• Nose: Dark cherry, dried plum, caramel, and vanilla — the port barrel influence amplified by cask strength delivery.
• Palate: Rich and intense — the port finishing produces dried fruit, dark chocolate, and a warm sweetness that combines with the bourbon's caramel and spice at full natural proof.
• Finish: Long and warming — the port-finished character persisting through a deeply complex close.

Specs

• Distillery: Angel's Envy Distillery, Louisville, Kentucky
• Style: Port Barrel Finished Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Finishing: Ruby port wine barrels, Portugal
• Bottling: Cask strength, no dilution
• Release: 2014 Annual Cask Strength
• Size: 750ml

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

Frequently Asked Questions

• Who was Lincoln Henderson? Lincoln Henderson was one of the most respected figures in American bourbon — 40 years at Brown-Forman, creator of Woodford Reserve and Gentleman Jack, and founder of Angel's Envy at age 74. His innovation of finishing Kentucky straight bourbon in port wine barrels defined a new category in American whiskey. He passed away in 2013 at age 75, the year before this release.
• How does the Cask Strength differ from standard Angel's Envy? Standard Angel's Envy is bottled at 86.6 proof after proofing down from barrel strength. The Cask Strength is the same port barrel-finished bourbon at its natural barrel proof — significantly higher, with more aromatic intensity, richer mouthfeel, and deeper flavor expression. The port finishing character is more pronounced at full proof.
• Why is the 2014 particularly significant? The 2014 is one of the earliest Angel's Envy Cask Strength vintages, released the year after Lincoln Henderson's passing. It is from the founding era of the program before it became one of the most anticipated annual bourbon releases in the country.
• Is the 2014 Cask Strength still available? In limited quantities through specialty retailers. A decade-old vintage from an early year of the program.