Evan Williams 1783 Bourbon (80 Proof)

Nose: vanilla, oak, sweet Palate: spicy, tart, sweet, light oak Finish: oak spice, sweet, a little dry Much better than I expected for $13. There is a surprising amount of barrel influence for such an inexpensive bourbon. Nothing objectionable at all about this one. It lacks complexity compared to more expensive bourbons but is very good.

The "expert" rating is full of itself. Yes, this is what you expect from a bourbon. And since when was that a bad thing? It's definitely a step above EW Black, and nestled comfortably between black and Single Barrel. How it rates below black is truly a mystery. Definitely worth the 7 dollars extra for the 1.75l bottle.

Was gifted a handle of this by someone who knows I like bourbon. I can't believe I haven't reviewed this one before, so...Here goes. Nose: Peanut Brittle, Shellac, Juicy Fruit Gum, Cola, and Oak are the prominent notes I pull from my Glencairn. After some time in the glass, it develops an Herbal Note similar to a rye whiskey. Neat: Vanilla Coke, Oak, Mint, and a Black Pepper Tingle. Not overly complex, but solid. Dry Roasted Peanuts become more prominent the longer it's in the glass. There is some astringency, but not enough to be off-putting. There is a little bite on the finish and a nice sweet Oak and Vanilla that coats the palate. Splash: A little water adds a touch of Citrus to both nose and palate. Verdict: Solid and Workmanlike. A great value at between $15-$17. Decent Neat and a great mixer. I was sent a Heaven Hill survey recently with some new bottle designs for this one, and it is getting a much needed makeover with Old-Time bottle shape, Label and large cork stopper. I hope the price doesn't go up as a result. 3.25