Like
most, my first whiskey experience was Jack Daniels. It's cheap. It's American.
It's classic. And maybe most importantly, it's readily available. Later,
I would try Crown Royal, because that's what my dad drank. When I got to
college, my roommates and I would buy Evan William's Black Label, because it
was the cheapest thing we could get our hands on. Later, at the time having no
idea what good whiskey is, I would find out how good it is, and what's more, I
would find out about the Bottled-in-Bond white label, just a few dollars more.
Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond has become a semi daily drinker for me. That is
to say at least, that it always has a place on my shelf.
From the Bottle
Bottled-in-Bond status is earned only by meeting strict government standards, originally passed in 1897 to ensure quality and consistency. In accordance with these standards, this bourbon is 100 Proof, aged at least 4 years, and produced at a single distillery within a single distillation season.
About the Whiskey
- Distillery: Old Evan Williams Distiller, Louisville Kentucky. It is interesting to note that there are two distilleries, noted on the bottle by KY-1 for Louisville and KY-31 for Bardstown. This bottle is from the Louisville Distillery.
- Type: Single Distillery
- Charcoal Filtered
- Age: At least four years
- 50% ABV / 100 Proof
Tasting Notes
Appearance: Evan Williams BIB is amber in color. The legs are quick on the glass and don't linger on the glass long at all.
Nose: On the nose, there are notes of oak, vanilla, and sweet caramel.
Taste: The whiskey is subtly sweet, with notes of oak, vanilla, and caramel, similar the notes on the the nose
Finish: The whiskey has a slow finish, though it is not buttery. It has a light and even mouthfeel. The oak hits you in the back of the mouth and gives way to an oak bomb with sweet vanilla notes.
