Evan Williams White Label Bottled in Bond Bourbon

Nose: Vanilla, cream, brown sugar, nutmeg, cloves. Some barrel showing up, though in a mild, rounded way. Bananas, cashews. Slight cinnamon, basil, dill, apricot, and persimmon. Faint honey. Really hunting for things here - the vanilla, oak, and brown sugar are definitely dominant here but the proof is helping keep things interesting. Palate: Vanilla bean ice cream with a dusting of chocolate powder. Clove and cinnamon, too, with oak in tow. Floral honey. The smallest hit of barrel influence - mild tannin. Bananas and orange blossoms. Light mouthfeel. Finish starts with a rush of orange oil - if you've ever sat at a bar and experienced the smell just after a bartender expresses a peel over a glass, you know what I'm talking about. Then the vanilla and cream show up, along with some hot cinnamon and nutmeg. As things fade out, I get a distinctly store-bought eggnog character, but with freshly grated cinnamon and nutmeg, while bright citrus pops over the top. Medium-short finish. Other notes: Surprised I hadn't reviewed this one yet. This is one of those sleeper hits that surprises the people I suggest it to - especially at its price point (sub $20 near me). It's not the most complex, rich experience, but it's an excellent example for a bog-standard bourbon, and one of a few budget offerings I regularly suggest to people wanting to get into the style. When I'm reaching for 100 proof, Knob Creek is usually my go-to, but I'm happy to land here when my budget dictates. An easy buy, and one that I'm always happy to come back to.

Nutty nougaty. Touch of banana candy

Nose: caramel, brown sugar, roasted nuts, pretty tame vanilla, a bit more alcohol is noticeable compared to other bottled in bond bourbons. Palate: I didn't expect this to be very good honestly. But I'm happy to report that while the nose kind of disappointed me, the taste did not. It's big and buttery in the mouth. A spicy dark cherry and cinnamon taste when rolled around the tongue. Overall I'd recommend this for a beginner in whiskey tasting/collecting. It's worth the $15 considering the name on the label. If I had to choose between this and a bottle of Jim Beam (bonded, black, devil's cut, and double oak are roughly the same price) I'd probably choose the Beam to be honest.

Nose is like caramel covered roasted peanuts, charred oak, and alcohol. Taste is like a peanut praline. For the price, it's a great bourbon neat, with water, or mixed with a Coke.

Compare to Very Old Barton

roasted nuts, vanilla, caramel, sweet