Review #342 - Evan Williams Bottled in Bond Bourbon

While Heaven Hill's Evan Williams brand has an entry-level black label bourbon in the $10 to $15 range, they also offer this white labeled bottled-in-bond version as a step up in quality, and it doesn't cost much more.

Because it's bottled in bond, we know that it was all distilled in one season, and it must be at least 4 years old; bottling strength also has to be an even 50% ABV (100 proof), which is a good spot for this price point.

Evan Williams Bottled in Bond Bourbon

USA - Bourbon

Current Locally Available Price: USD 19 (2024)

Age Statement: 4 Years

Strength: 50% ABV

Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 3 times over 3 years; bottles at 50%, 60%, and 20% fill levels at times of review. Tasted in a Glencairn glass each time, rested 10-15 minutes

Nose: Mellow with plenty of corn grain and thin brown sugary notes; there's a little bit of ethanol, a slightly cheap character, but it isn't too bad. Sugary grain, maple, and caramel combine for more sweet scents, and we get decent oak and some cinnamon. Later, a soft nutty smell develops.

Palate: Leans sweet, and quite a bit more nutty now - peanut brittle, and some hints of corn grain again. Some cinnamon and oak, but not overly spicy, and then brown sugar and caramel add more sweetness. A bit of a classic bourbon flavor profile; vanilla pods and anise appear in time. The mouthfeel is medium.

Finish: Medium length, a little bit of alcohol, and some oily texture. Soft oak tannins pucker the cheeks, and we get lots of baking notes: vanilla, brown sugar, oatmeal, and nuts. It does get a bit more bland on the following sips.

Final Note: This is a fine entry-level bourbon, and we appreciate the texture it brings with the bottling strength. It is a bit basic and bland at times, but it's excellent for cocktails, as that strength will hold up to other ingredients; in a pinch, it will do fine for neat sipping, too.

Price has actually been increasing on this bottle a bit - a couple of years ago, we could get a 750ml bottle for $12 to $13 in our area. Now it's closer to $19 most of the time - value is still good, but not as excellent as it used to be.

Our Average Rating: 4.7 / 10

In the current whisky landscape of increasing prices and variable quality, we've added a value rating to our reviews that relates to the score and the available pricing of each whisky. This roughly equates to a 0-10 scale; no reviews so far have exceeded a score of 10, although it is technically possible for the formula to produce a value rating higher than 10 with a high enough score and low enough price.

Value Rating: 7.65

About Us: We're a husband and wife review team living in the Midwest United States. Generally, our reviews and tasting notes will be a compilation of both of our experiences with a whisky over several tasting sessions.