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Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B vs Angel’s Envy
Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B and Angel’s Envy sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, wheat-forward classic versus a new-wave, classically built craft style.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B | Angel’s Envy |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Age | 12 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 90.4 proof (45.2% ABV) +4 proof | 86.6 proof (43.3% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$170 – $900 | ~$45 – $55 ~$485 less |
| Availability | Allocated | Widely available easier to find |
- Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B and Angel’s Envy do not publish an official mash bill.
- US shelf prices as of 2026-10; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Angel’s Envy
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B Angel’s Envy
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 5/7 fruit: Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B 5 out of 10, Angel’s Envy 7 out of 10
spice 3/4 spice: Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B 3 out of 10, Angel’s Envy 4 out of 10
oak 6/5 oak: Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B 6 out of 10, Angel’s Envy 5 out of 10
sweetness 8/8 sweetness: Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B 8 out of 10, Angel’s Envy 8 out of 10
heat 3/3 heat: Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B 3 out of 10, Angel’s Envy 3 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B 3 out of 10, Angel’s Envy 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The fruit-versus-grain contrast drives this one.
- Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B: Twelve-year wheated bourbon from the Van Winkle line. Soft and balanced, with butterscotch, toffee and caramel and a gentle, spiced finish.
- Angel’s Envy: Finished in port barrels, which pushes it well away from the traditional bourbon template toward berry and raisin sweetness. Divisive among purists and extremely popular with everyone else.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B if you want a soft, balanced, 12-year wheater from the Van Winkle line.
- Go with Angel’s Envy if you want an overtly fruity, port-finished bourbon that breaks from the traditional profile on purpose at a significantly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat (Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B); neat, rocks (Angel’s Envy).