BUDGET BOTTLED-IN-BOND BOURBON SHOWDOWN Evan Williams Bottled-In-Bond Old Tub Bottled-In-Bond Wild Turkey 101 Okay, I know that the WT101 isn’t bottled-in-bond; but it is budget, and it is bourbon, and it’s only 1 proof point above the other two, so that’s close enough for me (even if it is a bit older). I thought that a side-by-side comparison between the three would be interesting. Also, it’s college football Saturday, and this is a little pregame activity. Evan Williams Bottled-In Bond I’ve never had this bourbon, which is a Heaven Hill brand. Clear Pantone 138 in color (I have no affiliation with Pantone, but am using it in an attempt to achieve a little more visual precision). Sweet nose reveals an initial hit of tangy barbecue sauce, with orange, caramel, and vanilla. The palate is robust: great depth of flavor with sweet corn, simple syrup, and peppercorn spice, with a pleasant ethanol burn. The medium-length finish is primarily sweet, oaky vanilla. No hard edges or bitterness. This is flat-out delicious. Great aromatics and depth of flavor, and the BiB designation is wonderfully apparent. This Evan Williams expression qualifies as a great sipper neat, and at 100 proof would be great in cocktails as well, without breaking the bank. At just a tick over $20, the value here is amazing. I cannot believe that this is the first time I’ve tried this bourbon, but it definitely won’t be the last, and I’ll always have one on hand. Easy 4.0 on the Distiller scale. Old Tub Bottled-In-Bond Old Tub is a Jim Beam brand, and this is also my first experience with it. Clear Pantone 144 in color. Fruity nose, much different than the EW: pomander, apple pie, caramel, and vanilla. Palate is no wallflower, with sweet mulled cider and cigar notes. Cinnamon finish, with a little vanilla, short to medium in length. The ethanol is there, as it should be, but at an appropriate level corresponding to the flavor intensity. I’m similarly pleased that I’ve tried Old Tub. Like the EW, this could function as a sipper, on the rocks, or a cocktail base, given the 100 proof. It’s also around $20, and as such represents a great value. Not quite the experience for me as was the EW, but I’ll always have one of these on hand as well. 3.5 on the Distiller scale. Wild Turkey 101 Wild Turkey 101 is, of course, a Wild Turkey brand, and I’ve had it many times. Clear Pantone 138. The nose is focused more on caramel and vanilla, far more than the EW and OT, with banana bread and a splash of orange. The classic WT high-rye spice is immediately apparent on the palate: there’s a light viscosity—more than the EW and OT—likely the result of longer barrel aging. It finishes medium to long, with vanilla and cinnamon. Wild Turkey 101 is a must-have for me; I’ve never had any WT product that I didn’t like. They have a distinct house style, with a single mashbill for their bourbons. It retails for $1-2 more than the EW or OT, but likely has more age as well. Outstanding. 4.0 on the Distiller scale. N.B.: All spirits tasted neat in a Glencairn glass.