Angels Envy Bottled in Bond Bourbon 750ML

Angel's Envy Bottled in Bond Bourbon 750ML is a 100-proof (50% ABV) Kentucky straight bourbon that achieves its bottled-in-bond designation at true cask strength, with no water added. Awarded Double Platinum at the 2025 ASCOT Awards, this release represents a distinctive approach to the historic Bottled-in-Bond Act requirements — one achieved through unconventional barrel entry proof and careful blending rather than dilution.

Quick Facts: ABV: 50% (100 Proof)  |  Origin: Louisville, Kentucky  |  Bottled in Bond  |  Distillery: Louisville Distilling Co.

Production & Heritage

Angel's Envy was founded in 2010 by the late master distiller Lincoln Henderson and is produced at Louisville Distilling Co. in Louisville, Kentucky. The brand is now part of the Bacardi portfolio, with Wes Henderson continuing his father's vision. This Bottled in Bond expression uses a mashbill of 72% corn, 18% rye, and 10% malted barley. What makes it unusual is the method: barrels were filled in spring 2018 at a lower-than-standard entry proof of just 103, far below the industry norm. At bottling, 27 low-proof barrels were blended with two higher-proof barrels from the same distilling season to land at exactly 100 proof — the legal requirement for bottled-in-bond — without adding a single drop of water. The result is a bourbon that is simultaneously cask strength and bottled in bond, a distinction no other major label has claimed.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Lightly caramelized sugars and vanilla wafers open first, followed by baked apples and sweet cherries. Deeper breaths reveal dried apricot and a subtle suggestion of banana pudding.

Taste: The entry is smooth and honeyed, with a honey-latte sweetness that quickly broadens into ripe stone fruit and buttery caramel at mid-palate. As it develops, fire-cured tobacco, citrus zest, and warm cornbread emerge alongside a soft, grounding oak presence.

Finish: Rounded and gentle, the finish avoids any harsh burn despite the 100-proof strength. It fades slowly with lingering notes of honey and toasted grain, inviting an immediate second sip.

How to Drink Angel's Envy Bottled in Bond

The 100-proof strength and layered complexity make this bourbon an excellent candidate for sipping neat; the absence of added water during production means you are tasting the spirit exactly as it left the barrel. A single large ice cube can open up the stone-fruit character further without muting the finish. In cocktails, this expression holds its own in spirit-forward builds: an Old Fashioned benefits from the caramel-and-tobacco backbone; a Boulevardier pairs well with the citrus zest and soft oak; and a Gold Rush (bourbon, honey syrup, lemon) amplifies the natural honey-latte sweetness already present in the whiskey.

Best For

• Gifting a bourbon enthusiast who values unique production stories
• Adding a bottled-in-bond expression to a curated home bourbon collection
• Hosting a side-by-side tasting of bonded bourbons at different proof philosophies
• Marking a milestone celebration with a limited, award-winning release

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Angel's Envy Bottled in Bond taste like? It leads with honey and caramel sweetness, moves into ripe stone fruit and fire-cured tobacco at mid-palate, and finishes gently with toasted grain and soft oak. The overall impression is smooth and layered for a 100-proof bourbon.

How does Angel's Envy Bottled in Bond compare to Old Forester 1897 Bottled in Bond? Both are Louisville-produced, 100-proof bonded bourbons, but they diverge in mashbill and production philosophy. Old Forester 1897 uses a higher rye mashbill and is reduced with water to reach 100 proof, while Angel's Envy achieves its bonded proof at cask strength with no water addition — resulting in a noticeably rounder, less sharp palate.

Is Angel's Envy Bottled in Bond good for sipping neat? Yes — the lack of any water added during bottling means the flavor profile is unaltered from the barrel, and the rounded finish makes it approachable at full proof without excessive heat.

Where is Angel's Envy Bottled in Bond made? It is produced and bottled at Louisville Distilling Co. in Louisville, Kentucky, under the Angel's Envy brand now owned by Bacardi.

What foods pair well with Angel's Envy Bottled in Bond? Smoked brisket complements the fire-cured tobacco notes; pecan pie mirrors the caramel and toasted grain character; aged cheddar contrasts the honey sweetness with sharpness; stone-fruit cobbler echoes the mid-palate fruit; and dark chocolate brings out the deeper oak tones on the finish.

What sizes does Angel's Envy Bottled in Bond come in? The standard release is available in 750ml bottles.

Is Angel's Envy Bottled in Bond worth the price? It positions as a premium bottled-in-bond expression, priced above everyday bonded bourbons like Evan Williams or Old Grand-Dad but justified by its unique cask-strength-meets-bonded production method and strong critical recognition, including Double Platinum at the 2025 ASCOT Awards.

Why Angel's Envy Bottled in Bond?

The central achievement here is engineering — filling barrels at an unusually low 103 entry proof so that, years later, the liquid could meet the Bottled-in-Bond Act's 100-proof requirement without dilution. That is not a marketing flourish; it is a deliberate production decision made in 2018 that plays out in the glass as a bourbon with unusual density and texture for its proof. The 2025 awards circuit validated the approach: Double Platinum from ASCOT, Platinum from the L.A. Spirits Awards, and Gold from the New York International Spirits Competition. For drinkers who appreciate bonded bourbon as a guarantee of quality and transparency, this release goes a step further by removing the one variable — added water — that bonded status still allows.