Review: Evan Williams Black Label Bourbon
I’ve written about Evan Williams a few times now after seeing the brand rank highly in taste-tests of inexpensive booze. Widely regarded as the best “cheap bourbon” on the market, I figured I’d pick up a bottle and try it myself, tasting it as seriously as I would a $300 Scotch.
The price of this bottle of Evan Williams Black? $9.49.
Alas, old Ev Black is not as smooth as some might make it out to be. Though 86 proof, it feels watery, yet it packs a rye-like kick as you sip. Citrus is the predominant flavor here, which is another oddity, with a smoky finish that really just hints at bourbon’s characteristic vanilla.
Could I put this in Coke and be happy as a clam? Sure, but for straight bourbon drinking on a strict less-than-75-cents-a-shot budget, I’ll stick with Jim Beam.
B- / $9.50 / evanwilliams.com
February 3rd, 2009 at 11:10 am
One bourbon that I’d really like to see you review is the Evan Williams 1783 bourbon (aged 10 years). Its only 11 or 12 dollars a fifth and i think it is one of the best deals on the market right now. Its ridiculously better than EW black for only a few dollars more. Also me and my friends all tried a EW 1783 blind taste test beside Jim Beam Black and EW 1783 won hands down (way smoother). Its my go to bourbon now but its kind of hard to find
February 4th, 2009 at 11:28 pm
i think you actually may be thinking of a specific Evan Williams bottling – It’s actually called “Evan Williams 1783 10 Year”. I bought this black label after hearing all this hype but soon after discovered that the hype is over the 10-year bottling,,,which ironically, is priced at the same price as this black label stuff.
honestly, this tastes perfectly fine – i like it straight and with coke (mainly just drink with coke which I know is not ‘hip’ but I really love coke).
the 10 year bottling is a tubby, stout bottle – looks very different from their black and green labels. I’ve never tried it either, but as soon as it’s re-stocked locally, I’ll be trying it.
February 4th, 2009 at 11:31 pm
also,,, I’d like to see you review fighting cock…. to me, fighting cock in a coke is nirvana – my favorite combo…. I’ve gone through some cheap and more pricy bourbons but for some reason I can’t put my finger on, i really dig this particular brand… i even love the smell of the empty bottle..
February 5th, 2009 at 7:53 am
aaron – The highly-touted bourbon in both the stories I’ve mentioned is definitely not the 1783 but the straight black label. (Of course, that’s just the hype I’ve been reading.) That said I’ll keep an eye out for the 1783… they don’t seem to have it at my local hooch merchant but also appears to be a great deal ($12 online at some places).
February 6th, 2009 at 12:29 pm
the cheap Jack Daniel’s. thats my opinion
February 7th, 2009 at 3:54 am
Just as good (bearable?) as Jim Beam, and almost half the price.
February 12th, 2009 at 9:56 pm
i gotcha. I bought the black label too recently and it’s fine. I KNOW there are probably better bourbons for the same price out there, but I’d never turn my nose up at this one. Maybe someone will find this blasphemy but I find this less medicinal than JB in a coke…..
February 13th, 2009 at 9:54 pm
[...] Evan Williams may be best known for it’s $9.49 black label bourbon, the fact is the company makes a wide range of whiskeys spanning a range of price [...]
May 15th, 2009 at 12:14 pm
Let me start off by saying that the only thing sweeter than Evan Williams is Ac/DC, and seeing as how you can’t drink Ac/DC it’s obvious that Evan Williams is the shiznit. I love Evan Williams. I’ve been drinkin it since I was 9. One time I tried Jack Daniels and I got HIV. Now me and my friends can’t share needles anymore because I’ll make them sick with my HIV. Evan Williams black label is so good it makes me cry. It’s so good that the only thing I care to mix it with is either saliva or poontang. God bless the inventor of this magical thirst quencher. God bless him and his no doubt smoking hot wife.