As Bourbon Heritage Month 2026 nears the seasonal releases are starting to pop up and Angel’s Envy Distillery on Whiskey Row in Louisville, Kentucky, is no exception. Master Distiller Owen Martin leaned on the brands founding by finishing their traditional Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey in secondary barrels but foregoing the wine barrels for stout beer barrels from across town and Amburana barrels from South America.
The Angel’s Envy 2026 Distillery Series limited-edition release celebrates the city’s craft brewing culture through an innovative combination of cask finishes. This latest release curated by Martin continues the brand’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of cask finishing while celebrating Louisville’s vibrant craft community. The expression blends Imperial Stout beer barrel finishing with Brazilian Amburana wood finishing, creating a layered whiskey with notes of roasted cocoa, warming spice, and rich spirit character.
“The Distillery Series gives us the freedom to explore new ideas while staying true to what makes Angel’s Envy special,” shares Martin. “For this release, I wanted to see how the roasted richness of Imperial Stout barrels could work alongside the bold spice of Amburana wood. The goal wasn’t to make something louder. It was to create a balanced, layered, and unique pour that introduces drinkers to a flavor combination they may not have experienced before.”
A Blend of 6- and 7-Year-Old Bourbon Finished in Imperial Stout Barrels and Brazilian Amburana Barrels
The release is a blend of whiskeys aged between 6- and 7-years total, with a majority having spent between 6-to-24-months finishing in Imperial Stout barrels and a smaller component featuring one month finishing in Brazilian Amburana wood. This dual-cask journey marries the roasted malt and chocolate notes from the stout barrels with the warming baking spice and sweetness imparted by the Amburana wood, delivering a whiskey that is both unexpected and approachable.
Tasting Notes – Bottled at 100 proof (50% ABV), the expression opens with aromas of cinnamon toast cereal, light florals, dusty cocoa, and icing. On the palate, notes of fresh churros, juicy mulled cider, and chocolate orange give way to a finish of creamy ganache, bright fruit, and lingering Mexican hot chocolate.
The Angel’s Envy 2026 Distillery Series is a blend of 6- to 7-year whiskeys featuring finishing times between 1 and 24 months. The finishing process was highly iterative and exploratory, focused on understanding how the roasted malt and cocoa notes from the stout barrels could complement the warming spice and sweetness of Amburana. The goal was to create harmony between the two finishes while preserving the core bourbon character.
- Kentucky Bourbon Mash Bill: 72% Corn, 18% Rye, 10% Malted Barley
- Age Barreled: March 2019-February 2020
- Imperial Stout Barrel Finish: 6-24 months
- Amburana Barrel Finish: 1 month
- Color: Toasted Malt
- Nose: Cinnamon toast cereal, light florals over dusty cocoa and icing
- Palate: Fresh churros, juicy mulled cider, chocolate orange
- Finish: Creamy ganache, bright fruit, lingering Mexican hot chocolate
Angel’s Envy’s Distillery Series features limited releases, developed exclusively for visitors to the Louisville distillery. Each expression is an exercise in innovation, exploring new finishing techniques, unlikely barrel combinations, and local stories, while remaining rooted in the distillery’s locally mastered, globally inspired philosophy.
Approximately 18,000 bottles (375 mL) will be released and can be purchased exclusively at the Angel’s Envy Distillery in Louisville, beginning on Thursday, September 10, 2026, for $54.99. Guests attending the Kentucky Bourbon Festival will have a first chance opportunity to preview the whiskey with Martin.
Angel’s Envy Distillery is a global brand that produces finished whiskeys. Founded in 2010, Angel’s Envy was among the first American whiskey producers to employ a secondary finishing process broadly across its portfolio. Today, each of its award-winning whiskeys are finished in hand-selected barrels to add a distinct layer of flavor and complexity, and the Angel’s Envy team continues to produce several highly acclaimed core offerings – a Kentucky Straight Bourbon Finished in Port Wine Barrels, a Rye Whiskey Finished in Caribbean Rum Casks, and a Kentucky Straight Bourbon Finished in a blend of Hungarian, Chinkapin, and French Oak Barrels – as well as a variety of innovative, special releases.
Angel’s Envy is available in all 50 U.S. states and several international markets, and it is produced by Louisville Distilling Company, a subsidiary of Bacardi Limited.
Related Stories
— What is Bourbon Heritage Month?
– Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame Inducts Angel’s Envy Distillery’s Brand Home GM Dee Ford [VIDEO]
– Angle’s Envy Distillery Goes West to Hire Owen Martin as its 1st Master Distiller Since Founder Wes Henderson
Learn more about Angel’s Envy Distillery.
View all Louisville Distilleries.
View all Kentucky Distilleries.
View all U.S. Distilleries.
Stay Informed: Sign up here for the Distillery Trail free email newsletter and be the first to get all the latest news, trends, job listings and events in your inbox.
Please help to support Distillery Trail. Sign up for our Newsletter, like us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram and Twitter.
