An Ode to Oak: Why We #ToastTheTrees Every Year
Learn more about what motivates us to toast the trees every year. … Read More
Tag: barrel
Why Charring Barrels Matters
Let’s talk char. After all, aging in a charred oak barrel is one of the legal requirements for bourbon. So why do we do it? People have suggested that the inside of barrels were originally burnt to remove the leftover flavors of goods previously stored within, which sounds reasonable enough. There’s also some evidence that the practice goes … Read More
Kentucky’s Climate: The Engine that Drives Bourbon’s Flavor
There are several all-important contributors to a whiskey’s flavor: mash bill and yeast can certainly make a difference, and the type of wood that the barrel is constructed from makes a major difference, as well as the duration of aging. Char level is another factor, with most bourbons being aged at #3 to #4, or an alligator char. This allows … Read More
Saving the Spirit: Barrel Repair with Kevin Curtis
When whiskey is your business, few things are more disappointing than losing precious spirit to something as simple as a leaky barrel. Some loss is inevitable: Angel’s Share (or evaporation) will always claim its toll, but that’s the price we pay for aging in new oak barrels. Other losses can be stopped if you catch them in time … Read More
Whiskey History: Who Charred the First Barrel?
Short answer: no one really knows, but there are some very interesting theories about the origins. Well-regarded whiskey historians like Mike Veach and Chuck Cowdery don’t even claim to know for certain, but almost everyone agrees: no matter how it started, it’s been a good thing. The practice has been traced back as far as the fifteenth century, … Read More
Angel’s Envy Closes out Another Amazing Year at Camp Runamok
Another beautiful year at Camp Runamok is behind us, but we can always look back and remember the beautiful faces of this year’s collection of the world’s best bartenders. During the second week of the camp held in September, we hosted a women’s cabin called Angel’s Dissent. Our guests came from New York, Illinois, Arizona, Massachusetts … Read More
Angel’s Envy Newest Role: Cabin Sponsors at Camp Runamok
For the past four years, something strange and wonderful has been happening in the remote hills south of Louisville. Over the course of two weeks, three hundred bartenders from around the world descend upon the pristine wilderness to learn more about bourbon and their craft from industry experts—and exceptional peers. With over 1,000 applicants every year, each of the 300 chosen … Read More
The Life of a Barrel
Follow along to see the important roles that oak barrels play at each stage. … Read More
Angel’s Barrel-Aged Boulevardier
The Birth of Bottling
In the early stages of Angel’s Envy, we put a lot of thought into the shape of our bottle. We knew that we had an amazing whiskey on our hands, and we wanted to create a bottle that did it justice, and honestly, we were hoping to stand out on the shelf just a little bit. We drew inspiration … Read More