Evan Williams Distillery was founded in 1783 as Kentucky’s First Distillery. It was located on the banks of the Ohio River making transporting the whiskey easy. You can visit the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience on Whiskey Row in downtown Louisville. It’s a great tasting experience.
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Table of Contents
Which is the best Evan Williams bourbon?
Evan Williams Bourbon Review
| Evan Williams Bourbon | Details |
|---|---|
| Mashbill | 78% Corn, 12% Malted Barley, and 10% Rye |
| In the Bottle | 86 Proof |
| ABV | 43% |
| Age | 4 Years Minimum |
| Size | 750 mL and Up |
| Suggested MSRP | $12.99 |
| Parent Company | Heaven Hill Distillery |
| Distillery | Evan Williams Distillery Bardstown, KY |
| Pros | Oaky and Sweet, Great for Cocktails |
| Cons | Not Complex |
| Rating | Bronze 83 out of 100 Points |
| Inventory | Daily Drinker |
Coats the glass. Medium viscosity. Copper color.
Nose – 82 out of 100 Points
As I’m examining the viscosity of the bourbon I’m already getting sweet oak notes. Nose in the glass and it’s definitely oak, burnt brown sugar, and caramel. I also get cinnamon rolls with raisins.
There’s an orchestra of flavors but they’re not always harmonious.
Taste – 84 out of 100 Points
The palate matches the nose. The sweet oak note is the major player. I get buttered raisin toast with cinnamon sugar followed by black pepper.
Finish – 84 out of 100 Points
Sweet oak, cinnamon, and black pepper. It’s a medium finish.
Verdict – Bronze 83 out of 100 Points
It’s a solid daily sipping whiskey. However, I prefer Evan Williams Bottled in Bond or the Single Barrel. All that being said, don’t hesitate to stock your collection with this bottom shelf bargain.
It would also be great in a cocktail as I mentioned above. The oak and cinnamon notes play well with traditionally sweeter cocktails.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Evan Williams better than Jack Daniels?
Jack Daniel’s barely squeaked out the win by one point in my review.
Is Evan Williams made by Jim Beam?
No it is not. It’s made by Heaven Hill. I also ranked it higher than Jim Beam White Label bourbon.
Is Evan Williams a Wheated bourbon?
No, it is not a wheated bourbon. Its mashbill is 78% Corn, 12% Malted Barley, and 10% Rye
Is Evan Williams bottom shelf?
Yes, it is bottom shelf bourbon, but still worth stocking as a daily drinker or for cocktails.
Is Evan Williams a good bourbon?
Evan Williams bourbon is good. I would recommend this as a great entry point for bourbons with oaky notes.
What is Evan Williams’ price?
| Evan Williams Bourbon Bottle Size | Price |
|---|---|
| 750 mL | $12.99 |
| 1 Liter | $14.99 |
| 1.75 Liter | $19.99 |
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Evan Williams 12-Year-Old Review
| Evan Williams Bourbon | Details |
|---|---|
| Mashbill | 78% Corn, 12% Malted Barley, and 10% Rye |
| In the Bottle | 101 Proof |
| ABV | 50.5% |
| Age | 12 Years |
| Style | Small Batch |
| Size | 750 mL |
| Suggested MSRP | $129.99 |
| Parent Company | Heaven Hill Distillery |
| Distillery | Evan Williams Distillery Bardstown, KY |
| Pros | Interesting and Complex Finish, Great Legs |
| Cons | The flavor profile on Evan Williams can be muted |
| Availability | Distillery Gift Shop or Overseas Market |
| Rating | Silver 91 out of 100 Points |
| Inventory | Take the Tour at Evan Williams in Louisville and Taste First |
Evan Williams 12-years-old is dark amber, and it coats my Glencairn whiskey glass with thick ribbons. After a gentle swirl, my glass looked like the mouth of the Mississippi River where old whiskey casks would float to New Orleans.
Nose – 90 out of 100 Points
The nose is an oak lover’s paradise. The nose presents charred oak, vanilla, cinnamon, and spice. I also get subtle coconut notes. Maybe because I recently ate a donut. It reminded me of a cake donut with toasted coconut.
Taste – 91 out of 100 Points
The palate starts off with a creamy mouthfeel and vanilla and charred oak. It’s subtle vanilla pudding.
The oak starts at the tip of the tongue then silently moves to the back of the palate where marries with white pepper.
Finish – 93 out of 100 Points
The vanilla and oak are still present but I also get subtle grilled orange citrus notes. There’s also some savory cinnamon oatmeal as well.
Verdict – Silver 91 out of 100 Points
I’ve had Evan Williams 12-year-old bourbon at the Evan Williams experience in Downtown Louisville, but it was sensory overload from day 1 on the bourbon trail. I enjoyed it more than I remember. The oak and vanilla were perfectly balanced with a nice creamy thoroughfare.
The Evan Williams 12-year-old bourbon reviewed was provided by Mike Outcalt of Po It Up Podcast at no cost for a no strings attached review.
Evan Williams Master Blend Review
| Evan Williams Bourbon | Details |
|---|---|
| Mashbill | 78% Corn, 12% Malted Barley, and 10% Rye |
| In the Bottle | 90 Proof |
| ABV | 45% |
| Age | NAS |
| Style | Blend of Black label, Bottled-in-Bond, 1783, Single Barrel, and 23-year-old |
| Size | 750 mL |
| Suggested MSRP | $53.99 |
| Parent Company | Heaven Hill Distillery |
| Distillery | Evan Williams Distillery Bardstown, KY |
| Pros | Creamy and Refreshing with Strong Finish |
| Cons | One Note Nose |
| Rating | Bronze 83 out of 100 Points |
| Inventory | Daily Drinker |
EW master blend is a brass color in the glass. It’s a medium viscosity with droplets of whiskey after swirling in my Glencairn whiskey glass.
Nose – 88 out of 100 Points
The nose is all cinnamon raisin oatmeal drizzled with maple syrup with oak overtones.
When I came in for a second smell I got just hints of cherries and strawberries. It was a subtle whiff.
Taste – 89 out of 100 Points
EW Master Blend is a refreshing bourbon. The tip of the tongue is creamy oatmeal with cinnamon and nutmeg. The back of the palate is oak, black pepper, and more baking spice. The creaminess reminds me of a pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving.
Finish – 91 out of 100 Points
The finish doesn’t punch you in the throat but it lingers with creamy charred oak and white pepper as the prominent players.
Verdict – Silver 89 out of 100 Points
EW Master Blend Select is a great value at $50. If you’re in Louisville it’s worth grabbing two to three of these for your bourbon collection.
The Evan Williams Master Blend bourbon reviewed was provided by Mike Outcalt of Po It Up Podcast at no cost for a no-strings attached review.
Evan Williams Single Barrel Review
| EW SiB | Details |
|---|---|
| Mashbill | 78% Corn, 12% Malted Barley, and 10% Rye |
| In the Bottle | 86.6 Proof |
| ABV | 43.3% |
| Age | NAS |
| Style | Single Barrel |
| Size | 750 mL |
| Suggested MSRP | $23.99 |
| Parent Company | Heaven Hill Distillery |
| Distillery | Evan Williams Distillery |
| Pros | Perfectly Balanced, Great Complexity |
| Cons | Nose Is Meh for Me |
| Rating | Silver 90 out of 100 Points |
| Inventory | Daily Drinker |
EW SiB is oily fully coating my Glencairn whiskey glass. The color is bronze.
Nose – 88 out of 100 Points
The nose is savory. The prominent flavor is leather with background notes of clove, roasted peanuts, and brininess. I get hardly a sweet note. If I’m honest, it’s not my preferred flavor profile but it’s also balanced and complex which I can respect.
Taste – 92 out of 100 Points
The palate is what I’d expect from an Evan Williams bourbon. It has oak, leather, clove, and cinnamon. Oh but the sweetness finally shows. The front of the palate has a thick, rich salted caramel. And it’s perfectly balanced and sufficiently complex. That bit of sweetness drags me into its corner.
Finish – 90 out of 100 Points
The finish is medium to long but it’s back to mostly savory — clove, charred cinnamon, oak, and leather.
Verdict -Silver 90 out of 100 Points
Evan Williams Single Barrel is a bourbon cabinet staple. I very well could’ve said Evan Williams but the single barrel has the braggadocio to hit way out of its league depending on the vintage. And did I mention it’s under $30 and widely available across the U.S.?
Evan Williams Bottled in Bond White Label Review
| EW BiB | Details |
|---|---|
| Mashbill | 78% Corn, 12% Malted Barley, and 10% Rye |
| In the Bottle | 100 Proof |
| ABV | 50% |
| Age | NAS |
| Style | Bottled in Bond |
| Size | 750 mL |
| Suggested MSRP | $15 |
| Parent Company | Heaven Hill Distillery |
| Distillery | Evan Williams Distillery |
| Pros | Bold and Brash |
| Cons | Rough Around the Edges |
| Rating | Silver 85.6 out of 100 Points |
| Inventory | Daily Drinker |
Nose – 86 out of 100 Points
The nose is savory. I get banana bread with walnuts and cinnamon. The banana is subtle. It’s a no non-sense nose.
Taste – 86 out of 100 Points
The front of the palate is creamy vanilla, followed by baking spice and the classic Evan Williams oak note.
Finish – 85 out of 100 Points
The finish is brash and bold with some rough edges. There’s a sweet vanilla oak note with black pepper.
Verdict – Silver 85.6 out of 100 Points
In the glass, EW BiB offers high viscosity and long, dreary legs. The value is off the charts at $15 bucks for a bourbon that packs as much flavor as this does. It has some rough edges but what it lacks in these areas it makes up for with bold flavors.
Evan Williams Green Label Review
| Evan Williams Green | Details |
|---|---|
| Mash Bill | 78% Corn, 12% Malted Barley, and 10% Rye |
| In the Bottle | 80 Proof |
| ABV | 40% |
| Age | 4 Years Minimum |
| Size | 750 mL and Up |
| Suggested MSRP | $10 |
| Parent Company | Heaven Hill Distillery |
| Distillery | Evan Williams Distillery 528 West Main St. Louisville, KY 40202 |
| Pros | I enjoyed the nose. A bit different than the other EWs IMO |
| Cons | Short Finish |
| Rating | Bronze 80 out of 100 Points |
| Inventory | Daily Drinker or Mixer |
Nose – 82 out of 100 Points
The aroma is sweeter and less oaky than the other Evan Williams bourbon. I get caramel and vanilla and lightly toasted oak. More youthful oak than a charred one.
Taste – 80 out of 100 Points
Ahh there’s that classic Evan Williams oak. The front palate has some sweetness but it’s there and gone. It moves quickly into oak.
Finish – 78 out of 100 Points
A pop of black pepper and oak on a short finish with undertones of vanilla.
Verdict – Bronze 80 out of 100 Points
This is a basic bourbon. It lacks depth and complexity but on the other hand, it’s pleasant to drink. There’s nothing offensive. I wouldn’t buy to drink neat. This is a mixer for me.
Evan Williams 1783 Review
Coming soon
Evan Williams 23 Years Old Review
Coming soon
Evan Williams Bourbon Experience – Whiskey Row Lousiville, KY
Start shopping for bourbon swag for your journey. The Bard’s Shop has custom tees and hoodies, books, barrels, and more.
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Written by Matty Sims
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