Angel’s Envy’s Latest Rye Whiskey Is Finished in Extra Añejo Tequila Barrels

Angel’s Envy Cellar Collection Vol. 5 has arrived. (Photo: Angel’s Envy)

Angel’s Envy announced Wednesday that it will release its latest Cellar Collection expression — a straight rye whiskey finished in French oak extra añejo tequila barrels — nationwide on May 31. This marks the fifth volume in the brand’s limited Cellar Collection and the first overseen entirely by Master Distiller Owen Martin.

The new release combines rye whiskey aged up to seven years with an older rye aged over 11 years. The younger whiskey was finished for up to 12 months in French oak barrels previously used to age Patrón extra añejo tequila. According to the company, this finishing process adds herbal and earthy notes to the whiskey’s profile.

Patrón and Angel’s Envy are both owned by Bacardi Limited, so this exchange of barrels makes perfect sense.

Martin visited Hacienda Patrón in Jalisco, Mexico, to hand-select the barrels used in the finishing process. He worked with Patrón Master Distiller David Rodriguez during development.

“This launch is very special to me as the first Cellar Collection innovation for ANGEL’S ENVY that I oversaw from beginning to end,” Martin said in a news release. “As a part of the vision, we collaborated with PATRÓN Tequila’s Master Distiller, David Rodriguez, to identify a parallel between the production processes. We are always striving to showcase the unique character of a finishing cask and how it can amplify our base whiskey’s dynamic flavor – this release embodies that particularly well.”

Angel’s Envy describes the whiskey as floral and fruit-forward on the nose, with baking spice, cracked pepper, herbal agave and brown sugar on the palate. The finish is noted for its soft balance with orange blossom honey and tropical fruit.

The whiskey will be packaged in a special-edition box featuring agave plant imagery. It will retail for $269.99 per 750-milliliter bottle. Consumers can buy it nationwide where available or through ReserveBar. Members of Angel’s Envy’s loyalty program, 500Main, can also enter a lottery to purchase a bottle for in-person pick-up at the Louisville distillery on release day.

The last time we heard from the Angel’s Envy Cellar Collection was in January 2024, when the previously private series went public for the first time with a trio of whiskeys finished in oloroso sherry, tawny port and madeira wine.