Angels Envydoes just one thing, but it does it very well: making cask-finishedwhiskey. The annual Cask StrengthBourbonrelease, finished in port barrels like the core expression, is always a popular one that tends to get whiskey fans pretty riled up. Well, prepare to get even more titillated, because for the first time ever Angels Envy is pairing that bourbon with a Cask Strength Ryeand yes, its cask-finished as well.

This all comes under the auspices of new master distiller Owen Martin, who started his job atAngels Envyjust about a year ago. The details of this new Cask Strength Rye are as follows: It was made from a mashbill of 95 percent rye and five percent malted barley that was distilled atMGPin Indiana in 2015. The base liquid was aged from five to seven years, and then some of the whiskey was finished in sauternes wine barrels for three years and some in toasted oak barrels (French and American) for six months, and it was bottled at 114.4 proof.

Now, if the concept of a toasted oak finish gives you some pause, I see youthis type of finish can go verywrongvery fast, allowing a bouquet of baking spices to overpower the palate and erase all other flavors. The good news is that is definitely not the case here, making this a high-proofrye whiskeythat is well worth seeking out. The nose immediate reveals notes of fruit and pepper, with that 95 percent rye mashbill making itself very obvious. The palate opens up with huge notes of pear and cherry, followed by dark and milk chocolate, almond, and a bit of toasted spice that is present without taking over. Add a little bit of water if you want to proof it down a bit, but this whiskey is strong without being too hot