Evan Williams Single Barrel Review (Bottled 1-18-20)

About – Each year our Master Distillers hand select barrels for this special edition with characteristics unique to that year. Every bottle is marked with the vintage date it was put into oak, along with the year it was bottled and the serial number of the barrel that the Bourbon was drawn from. This particular barrel is 8 years old and was bottled on 1-18-20. Evan Williams Single Barrel is widely available, bottled at 86.6 proof, and costs around $25.

Nose – Interestingly the first thing I am picking up is a distinct buttered popcorn aroma with a touch of sweet oak in the background.

Palate – Light with oak leading the way. There is a touch of cinnamon and a nondescript sweetness. The finish is short-medium with a vegetal tinge that is fairly unpleasant.

Score – D+

Verdict – I am thoroughly disappointed with this bottle. I bought it as part of an under $25 blind tasting and it finished in last place. It definitely doesn’t taste like a 8 year old bourbon. I will say I have had better expressions of Evan Williams Single Barrel, but this one is bad enough that it will be a long time before I purchase another.