As a bourbon beginner, when I see tasting notes and reviews and want to try some of those pours. That was my intention with this blog: to use my beginner nose and palate to help other new bourbon lovers along their journer. Well, it seems that the lion’s share of the reviews I have done aren’t readily available in most locales as they have been local barrel pick selections or picks from local bourbon groups.
That stops now.
Sometimes with bourbon we think price equals quality. That is sometimes the case, however, not always. This is the first in a series of reviews of “budget” bourbons. These are bottles that are typically more available and very affordable.
Even Williams, a Heaven Hill Distillery product, is known for inexpensive bourbons. The most recognizable is the Evan Williams “black label”. Inexpensive, middle of the road quality, the black label product causes the rest of line to be lumped into that “cheap” bourbon moniker. Evan Williams Bottled in Bond (BiB), or white label, is an entirely different expression.
Before we get into the tasting, a quick explanation of what bottled in bond actually is. Let’s go to Wiki for an explanation:
Bottled in bond is a label for an American-made distilled beverage that has been aged and bottled according to a set of legal regulations contained in the United States government’s Standards of Identity for Distilled Spirits, as originally laid out in the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897. As a reaction to widespread adulteration in American whiskey, the act made the federal government the guarantor of a spirit’s authenticity, gave producers a tax incentive for participating, and helped ensure proper accounting and the eventual collection of the tax that was due. Although the regulations apply to all spirits, most bonded spirits are whiskeys in practice. To be labeled as bottled-in-bond or bonded, the liquor must be the product of one distillation season (January–June or July–December) by one distiller at one distillery. It must have been aged in a federally bonded warehouse under U.S. government supervision for at least four years and bottled at 100 (U.S.) proof (50% alcohol by volume). The bottled product’s label must identify the distillery where it was distilled and, if different, where it was bott led. Only spirits produced in the United States may be designated as bonded.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bottled_in_bond
With the technicalities out of the way, let’s get to the tasting. Note: this bottle has been open for awhile, so if you get a fresh cracked bottle, you may, and probably will, get some vastly different notes.
The nose of this 100 proof initially brings some tobacco smoke, some slight astringency, and very light vanilla. The tobacco smoke is very forward and masks some of the other notes.
First sip, with the chew, gives some great “classic” bourbon flavors of caramel, vanilla, and oak with some nice sweetness. Pleasantly surprised that the tobacco smoke that was so prevalent on the nose is nowhere to be found. There is some smokiness, but it is the smoke you expect from a bourbon that has been in a barrel for at least 4 years. Each progressive sip opens up more of that sweetness, along the lines of cotton candy with some nice cinnamon burn on the end. Fantastic flavors for a budget bourbon. Not overly complex, but still very enjoyable.
The finish keeps those cinnamon notes at the forefront. As it fades, some nice oak notes come in. The finish lasts a bit longer than expected given the overall simplicity of the palate and the proof of the product. Kinda cool that the tobacco notes that were on the nose are the final trailing flavors on the finish.
To wrap this up, if someone were to ask you give them a 10,000 foot level of what bourbon should taste like, give them a pour of Evan William white label. You will get some side-eye looks from your friends that remember their grandfather pouring himself a whiskey from a half-gallon of Evan Williams black label. This is NOT your grandfather’s Evan Williams and for the price (typically $15-$18 for a 750ml), I defy you to find a better value. Every day drinker, will hold up in a simple, classic cocktail, this bottle should be a requirement on every bar.
Evan Williams Bottled in Bond
8.1
Pros
- Great value!
- The definition of bourbon
Cons
- None, unless you are a bourbon snob