1.5 - Angel's Envy Rum Cask Rye Whiskey & Michter's Toasted Barrel Rye Whiskey

Spirits Blind Tasting - A Spirits People Podcast

In this episode of the Spirits Blind Tasting podcast, I'm doing a blind tasting of the Angel's Envy Rum Cask Finished Rye Whiskey & Michter's Toasted Barrel Finished Rye Whiskey. Feel free to follow along with a dram of any of these or any other spirit you enjoy as I try to uncover the aromas and flavors of these 2 spirits. My tasting notes from this episode can also be found below:
Spirit A - Angel's Envy Rum Cask Finished Rye (50% ABV)
Appearance

• Clarity: Clear
• Intensity: Deep
• Color: Gold
• Suggested texture: Thick oily

Nose

• Condition: Clean
• Intensity: Medium > Pronounced
• Aroma characteristics: Brown sugar, caramelized pear, cinnamon, gingerbread, pineapple, honey, sweetcorn, vanilla, lemon drizzle, hints of aniseed, hints of oak and leather
• Other notes: A very sweet nose with a strange aniseed-like note floating in the background. Most likely an American Rye Whiskey, but there are a few elements that lean towards a rum profile as well. Smells like a desert.
• ABV: ~55%

Palate

• Sweetness: Dry
• Texture: Mouth filling, warming, medium oily
• Intensity: Medium > Pronounced
• Flavor characteristics: Rye bread, ginger, lemon peel, peppercorn/aniseed, leather
• Other notes: Rye grain seems to be coming through, so leaning towards a Rye Whiskey over the Rum.
• Finish: Long and very complex carrying rye grain, lemon and oak

Conclusion

• Quality level: Very Good > Outstanding
• Blind guess: American or Canadian Rye Whiskey

Spirit B - Michter's Toasted Barrel Finished Rye (54% ABV)
Appearance

• Clarity: Clear
• Intensity: Medium
• Color: Amber
• Suggested texture: Medium oily

Nose

• Condition: Clean
• Intensity: Medium
• Aroma characteristics: Butterscotch, werthers original, vanilla, dried orange peel, cloves, toasted oak, violets, lavender, fragrant with hints of ginger.
• Other notes: Feels like a high ABV, quite floral all around the nose. Likely an American Whiskey, High Rye Bourbon, or Rye Whiskey.
• ABV: ~60%

Palate

• Sweetness: Dry
• Texture: Mouth filling, warming, medium oily
• Intensity: Pronounced
• Flavor characteristics: Oak, burnt toast (char), caramel, vanilla, cloves, peppercorn, all spice, dark chocolate, coffee beans, leather, lavender
• Other notes: Very complex palate, a lot of flavors in balance with each other and lots of links between the nose and the palate
• Finish: Long and very complex with oak, cloves, dark chocolate and lavender
• ABV: ~65%

Conclusion

• Quality level: Outstanding
• Blind guess: American High Rye Bourbon

If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to reach out to me at any time on Instagram @spiritspeople