Evan Williams 1783 checks the “small batch” box for this distillery giant.
Evan Williams is well-known throughout Kentucky and the bourbon world. The brand, owned by Heaven Hill, is all about affordable and quality bourbon. The Evan Williams family includes the standard Evan Williams Black, Evan Williams Single Barrel, Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond, and Evan Williams 1783.
Pulled from around 200 barrels, this bourbon just so happens to be the first and only small batch offering from Evan Williams. The name is supposed to honor the year that, “…Evan Williams founded Kentucky’s First Distillery.” Even though historians have discredited that little fact, the sentiment is still nice.
The brand is meant to be the older, more sophisticated sibling of Evan Williams Black. Although 1783 uses the same recipe and sour mash process, it’s aged just a few more years than Evan Williams Black. The result is in fact a slightly more complex of the distillery’s flagship bourbon.
Up front, 1783 shares all of the characteristics of EW Black- Strong corn, honey, brown sugar, and a little bit of oak. But 1783 comes with a surprise flavor twist: Peanut butter. Since most of the other tastes in this bourbon are fairly muted, the hints of peanut butter/peanut brittle quickly become the standout flavor. That odd taste, combined with the bourbon’s slightly oily and watery texture, makes for a very interesting experience to say the least.
There isn’t anything inherently wrong with Evan Williams 1783. In fact, for just $16 a bottle it could be a peanut lover’s dream. But in our case, stepping down to Evan Williams Black, or even stepping up to Evan Williams Single Barrel, is the better option.
STATS: Evan Williams 1783
- Price for us: $16 for 750mL
- Proof: 90
- Aged: 6-8 Years
- Distillery: Evan Williams, owned by Heaven Hill
- Recommendation: Neat
