Evans Williams Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon Review
In-Depth Review
Heaven Hill is known as one of the world’s biggest whiskey producers. Based in Bardstown, Kentucky they are responsible for brands such as Elijah Craig, Pikesville, Parker’s Heritage, Larceny, Old Fitz, and Evan Williams. Started after Prohibition, Heaven Hill now ranks as the fifth largest spirits supplier in the US and has the second largest inventory of aging bourbon whiskey in the US at over 1,600,000 million barrels.
Evans Williams BIB is a Bottled-in-Bond product meaning that it must conform to the BIB regulations set forth in the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897. This includes: must be aged at least 4 years, must be the product of one distillation season, must be 100 proof, and must be housed in a federally bonded warehouse. If a product conforms to all of these standards it can be classified as Bottled-in-Bond.
Age: Over 4 Years
ABV: 50%
Cask: Virgin Oak Casks
MSRP: Approx. $16
Distillery Name: Heaven Hill
Color: Light Caramel
Nose: Dark cherry syrup with some baking spices coming through. It’s a rich nose with vanilla and caramel dominating. Tobacco notes linger in the background.
Palate: Classic bourbon profile. Strong sweet and vanilla note up front. The wood and char notes come through, but can’t compete with the brown sugar or caramel. Pretty good mouthfeel, with enough proof for some bite, but the alcohol isn’t overpowering.
Finish: Medium finish with lingering caramel sweetness. After the sweetness, it transitions to a dry, nutty finish with some wood coming through at the end. After a few sips, a mild warmth begins to set in on the chest.
Final Thoughts: This is a fantastic value whiskey that punches above its weight. I would happily sit and drink this in almost any setting, with a set it and forget it profile that is instantly reminiscent of a classic bourbon profile. At around $15 it’s hard to argue that Heaven Hill is blessing us with a fantastic bottom shelfer here. I always have a bottle on hand, and at this price, I am happy to use it both in cocktails or straight. The 100 proof stands up well in an Old Fashioned, blending well with the sweetness of the simple syrup and bitters. It isn’t mind blowing, but much better than many others at this price, and provides that classic bourbon profile without many of the rough edges of others at this price.
