Evan Williams White Label Bottled in Bond Bourbon

Little sharp. Sweet-ish. Can’t taste the banana. Nothing too special.

Round 5 of the Scottish Distillery Tour is nearly done, but I needed to make a detour and review this bourbon before my wife and I finished off the bottle. A Kentucky straight bourbon that is Bottled in Bond, which guarantees 5 things; 1) it is natural color (dark copper), 2) it is aged in new charred American oak barrels, 3) it is bottled at 50% ABV, 4) it is a minimum of 4 years old (aged in a government controlled warehouse), 5) it has a mash bill with a minimum of 51% corn... but you already knew all of that. I don’t know for sure, but I would guess that it is non chill filtered. Strong oak and vanilla up front on the nose. Very little alcohol for 50%. Heavy cinnamon, clove and nutmeg. Some mint and a little dill from the rye in the mash bill. A little brown sugar and toffee, but I don’t think this whiskey ever approaches sweetness. There is a corn note but it’s not too heavy. A vague fruitiness, red fruits, maybe apples. A bit of candy corn and a chalky/ mineral note. The palate is heavy charred oak and baking spices, primarily cinnamon and clove. Red apples, mint and light dill. Vanilla, a little walnut and banana bread. Nothing exemplary, but a basic bourbon done fairly well. The mouthfeel is medium to full bodied, a bit of heat, astringent at times and dry. Medium length finish with oak, banana and walnuts. We’ve been primarily using this one as a mixer in hot toddy’s for when my wife’s throat is bothering her, but we also use it for a nice whisky & water. I prefer it with a giant ice cube and a small dash of water. Would go well with as a B&C too. Point is, this makes a better mixer than a sipping whiskey, but that’s really what it was made for. For a BiB that’s only $18, it’s a hell of a value. Price aside it’s solid 3. Factoring in the price, a 3.25, maybe even a 3.5, so that’s where I will mark it. Cheers