November 27, 2024
By Rebecca Herman McBrayer
Wayne and I selected this Evan Williams Single Barrel for a formal bourbon tasting because we realized that we have tasted it several times when out and about but our bottles at home were unopened. We picked up one bottle at a terrific dinner hosted by Evan Williams (great event!), and another at the 2024 Kentucky Bourbon Festival.
Tasting Notes: Evan Williams Single Barrel Vintage Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Please be sure to read our approach to Tasting Whiskey if you haven’t already.
Mashbill – 78% corn, 12% malted barley, 10% Rye
Age – 7-8 Years
Proof – 86.6
Price Paid – $49.99 (plus tax)
Color – Golden honey.
Aroma – Honey is very dominant and then there are notes of cinnamon. As it opens up, the light and pleasant nose includes vanilla and graham crackers.
Tasted Neat – Like the nose, the honey it right up front on the palate with notes of vanilla and cinnamon. It is reminiscent of a vanilla wafer, or vanilla yogurt with drizzled honey, as well as a honey and cinnamon graham cracker.
Finish – While not a strong finish, it does linger with cinnamon and oak.
Tasted with dried cranberry – This pairing is very light, bright, and with orange zest. It is also incredibly sweet, with hints of confectionary sugar, but the honey is gone. The finish is medium.
Tasted with a pecan – Notes of chocolate, caramel, and nutmeg really come forward with this pairing. The finish is long and lingering with some sweet barrel notes.
Tasted with dark chocolate – Interestingly, this pairing returned the honey and graham cracker. It tastes similar to a honey graham dipped in chocolate. Unfortunately, the finish is almost non-existent.
Final Notes and Video
The Evan Williams Single Barrel boasts a rich golden honey color. The aroma is dominated by honey, perfectly complemented by enticing notes of cinnamon. As it opens up, the light and inviting nose reveals layers of vanilla and graham crackers. Tasting it neat elevates the honey flavor, which takes center stage on the palate, harmonizing beautifully with vanilla and cinnamon. The experience is akin to indulging in a vanilla wafer or vanilla yogurt drizzled with honey, alongside the delightful combination of honey and cinnamon graham crackers. While the finish may not intense, it lingers with satisfying notes of cinnamon and oak.
While exploring the various pairings, we discovered that none were bad, indicating that the Evan Williams Single Barrel has versatility and could be easily paired with a variety of menu items. Wayne found the dried cranberry most interesting while I leaned toward what the pecan brought forward.
Its 7-8 year age helps bring character to this low-proof bourbon. While we believe this could be improved as a 100 proof offering, it might be a solid selection for someone who prefers a lower proof bourbon as it does have an interesting flavor profile. However, with other major distilleries starting to offer this age statement in the $25-30 range, its price point of $50 might deter some possible fans.
Embracing the Craft,
Rebecca & Wayne
Photos and video by Rebecca Herman McBrayer
NOTE: The bourbon in this review was purchased by us. We were not compensated by the spirit producer for this review. This is simply our opinion based on what we tasted on this day. Please drink responsibly.
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey: Such whiskeys have all the requirements of bourbon: Made in the U.S, distilled at <= 160 proof, barreled at <= 125 proof, aged in new, charred oak containers, bottled at >= 80 proof. Straight bourbon means it is aged at least 2 years (and must have an age statement if less than 4). In addition, to be Kentucky Straight Bourbon, it has the additional requirement that it must be produced and aged at least 1 year in the state of Kentucky. For additional information on bourbon requirements, please read this post – Bourbon Whiskey.
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