Evan Williams Review

Country: USA

Brand: Evan Williams Black

Type: Kentucky Straight Bourbon

Age: NAS

ABV: 43%

Date: 03/01/2013

Colour: Light Amber

Nose: Sweet with a slight rough Alcohol edge to it. Familiar flavours like Sweet Corn, Rye, Charred Oak, Glue, Vanilla, Butter, Brown Sugar, Coca Cola, Leather, Cinnamon, Furniture Polish from Grandma's days and Pine. Traces of Honey, Peach, Dried Apricot and Banana. Not bad at all!

Taste: Medium Alcohol bite, Caramel, Charred Oak, Dark Red Fruits like Cherries, Rye, Toffee, White Pepper, Vanilla, Brown Sugar. A bit rough I'm afraid.

Finish: Medium-Long, Nutty and a bit Sour towards the end with Charred Oak, Grain, Vanilla, Toffee, Caramel, Brown Sugar, White Pepper and hints of Leather, Licorice and Tobacco.

I added a few drops of Water but the Bourbon just waters down. Better sip it neat or drink it over Ice.

Rating:  81.5  (out of 100)

Nose: 21.5 - Taste:  20- Finish: 20 - Overall: 20

 Heaven Hill Warehouses (Note the Black Fungus!)

General Remarks: Evan Williams started distilling Whiskey on the banks of the Ohio River back in 1783, making him Kentucky's first commercial distiller. Today, this Bourbon is distilled at the Heaven Hill Distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky. Corn, Malted Barley and Rye are part of the Mash bill. The Whiskey matures for around 4 years in new charred White Oak Barrels. Evan Williams is America's second largest selling Kentucky Straight Bourbon after Jim Beam. It's not very expensive at around 12 Dollars.

Drinking Experience Neat: Good

Drinking Experience on the Rocks : Good

Conclusion: This is certainly a good alternative when you don't want to spend too much money on your Bourbon and still want to be able to enjoy an acceptable quality. I applaud the ABV of 43% and I quite like the Nose of the Evan Williams. Nothing too fancy but agreeable and well-balanced. It's a bit rough on the Palate and it's not my favourite sipping Bourbon. But it's quite alright with Ice on a warm day. And fortunately there are many of those in Sao Paulo!

Jan van den Ende                                                                   January 2013