Tastes

I found this bourbon when I was looking for an Eagle Rare alternative. Eagle Rare is hard to find and this one kept coming up as one to check out. I swear, half the cost and I think that this bottle is better than Eagle Rare by a wide margin. It's got that complicated brown sugar, vanilla, and tobacco flavor and coupled it with a nice belly warming. I can't think of a bad thing to say about this. I think I may have found my new favorite.

This was a gift and I couldn't be happier with it. Very light and sweet on the nose, like apple butter on toast. There is no burn as sweet apple and citrus compete for prominence on the tongue. The mouthfeel is not oily at all, which is surprising for the amount of sweetness I taste. The finish is baking spice, but it's not a smack in the face like some of the reviews I read. It's just a perfect finish to a fun dram. Even though it is only 80 proof, I find that an ice cube really wakes it up. Just make it a small one. You can serve neat, but I recommend it be chilled. It just tastes better to me that way. The only thing I would thing to improve this would be a cask strength version. If I could find this bottle near me, I would stock up.

I wish I had never tasted this bourbon. Just so I could have the first sip again. Once again Evan Williams produces a bourbon that is easily worth twice what you'll pay for it. The nose is honeyed buttered oats, a very homey aroma. The taste is sweet vanilla... and what is that... raisins? I can't quite place it, but I will be happy as hell to keep tasting it to figure it out. The finish reminds me of molasses cookies; sweet and spicy but this thing likes to linger thank goodness. The ABV is just right, the sting and burn is just enough to let you know it means business, but not so much you regret too big of a sip. Seriously, how they can sell this for $20 is a complete mystery. You can buy that rot-gut Jim and Jack for about the same price is unbelievable. I would serve this at a tasting right after sharing my Blanton Single Barrell & Colonel Taylor without hesitation. My rating it purely based on flavor. If I were to go flavor+value/price, this would be a 6 star review.

This is not a sipping whiskey and surely not to be used in a cocktail. The nose is bright and slightly stings the nostril. As soon as it touches the tongue, I am getting peanut brittle then apricot preserves mixed with orange peel. The finish is floral, maybe even herbal. Either way, it is very aromatic. After the aromatic finishes in the nose, the mouth has a assertive burn and this strange, heavy, chocolaty stout aftertaste lingers. It truly bizarre! This would be a perfect bourbon for a gathering or tasting with friends that appreciate complex bourbons. Any way you look at it, this is a premium dram. Definitely would try it again!

I tried this bourbon on a whim because I was getting too comfortable with my regulars. I am so glad that I did! This is an excellent mid-tier bourbon. I'd easily put this up against Blanton at 2/3rd the cost. The review I read was pretty much spot on: "A nose of pit fruits, honey, caramel and vanilla gives way to the palate of corn, raisins and astringents. The finish finds cinnamon and butterscotch with just a bit of lingering sour astringency." I would say that even though I usually like a neat glass, I really think this one wakes up significantly with just one ice cube. If you are on the fence about trying this one, go ahead and give it a shot, I am thinking that you will be really impressed!

I really want to rate this bourbon higher because of who it is. I've had three bottles of it now and I find that it is a bit inconsistent. The first bottle I had was when I was very new to drinking straight whiskey instead of cocktails or mixed drinks. It was very floral and heavy with spice and I did not care for it. The second time was at my cousins house and it was a far superior dram than what I had remembered. More sweet and apricot with vanilla hints than what I was expecting. This third bottle is cinnamon spice and leather. I mean honestly, this bourbon is just all over the place. None of the bottles are bad. But I cannot routinely buy a bottle of it when I have no idea what I am expecting. For an everyday sipper, I'm still recommending any Four Roses or Evan Williams.

I have been working through the "Best Value Bourbons" and finally got to the very well regarded Old Forester. Unfortunately I have to say that I am disappointed. Most of the reviews are listing all of these flavors. Maybe they are there in the higher proof version, but this bourbon is just watered down. The nose is just astringent to me. The flavor is floral on the front, but finishes with a hint of cinnamon and honey. I read this in another review and it really hit the nail on the head to me, the longer you hold it in your mouth (hoping some flavor would come through) the alcohol sting grows and I swear you can smell a dryer sheet. It's better than a Jack or Jim, but I would drink this if it was free at a friends house, but if I need a sipper for poker night Evan Williams is cheaper and far superior.

Evan Williams proves once again to be an incredible value and just an all around great bourbon. The professional review is spot on. Strong with the sweet vanilla and a dry finish of leather and cherry. It's not as complex as a Four Roses Single Barrel but it is every bit as enjoyable. I can find this one a heck of a lot easier too. I don't think I would care what vintage I find next time, if I see the name Evan Williams, I'm just gonna trust it.

Seriously - this bourbon is criminally under rated and shamefully lesser known. For a price that is under $20 (seriously, under $20!) this is an incredible bourbon. Until now, I would have said that Four Roses Single Barrell is the best you can get as a value. This is almost as tasty as that bottle, but it is literally half the price. I cannot wrap my head around the incredible value this bottle provides. Why in the world Jack or Jim is the preferred whiskey of the high school/college/bar scene instead of this, I simply cannot grasp. This is fantastic straight or neat, mint julep, or with a coke. If you have never tried this bourbon you will kick yourself for being a snob or believing the marketing of the big names. In all honesty, this is the best borubon you never heard of. I've got some Willet, Blanton, and some Colonel - I would put this up against them in a blind taste test any day. Even if the people I shared it with totally disagreed with me, I only out $20. Seriously, buy this bourbon and keep it in your rotation.

What can I say about Blanton's that has not already been said. It is a delicious bourbon at it's retail price. However, the second hand market is insane. I feel very lucky to have found it for $75, I've seen it for over $200. I don't get the floral tones on the nose, rather it is sweet like kettle corn or caramel corn. First taste reminds me of taffy if you could drink it. I don't really know how else to describe it. I don't want to call it oily, but there is a certain mouthfeel about it that makes it more substantial than a whiskey. The vanilla starts to assert itself along with some citrus notes. Just a wee little but of burn so that you know this is actually alcohol! The tobacco come through to me as an aromatic finish. I swear I smelled pipe tobacco and oranges. Very enjoyable honestly. I would buy this regularly if I could find it. I would also score it as high as my coveted Four Roses Single Barrel if not for the incredible value that bottle provides versus this one. All in all, if you find this in the store at retail price of $60 or below, it's worth buying. I believe it lives up to the reviews but NOT the hype. Of course, nothing ever lives up to the hype. So far, the 3 bourbons I can recommend without hesitation are the Four Roses SB, the Willet Copper Pot Still, and now the Blantons. AS LONG as you buy them all at retail!