When it comes to bottom-shelf bourbons, things aren’t always so white and Black Label.
For years now, Evan Williams Black (or Black Label) has been one of the best selling bourbons in the world. Owned by Heaven Hill, the Evan Williams brand certainly has some power behind it, but it’s the accessibility and affordability that’s kept this bourbon so popular. In fact, Black Label continues to out perform its single barrel, small batch, and bottled-in-bond counterparts. But why do people reach for a bottom-shelf bourbon when they could have something better? Because Evan William Black is a different kind of bottom-shelf bourbon.
A $14 bottle of bourbon doesn’t come with a lot of expectations. If you’re reaching for a bottom-shelf bourbon, chances are that you’re anticipating a sharp heat, bitter flavors, or both. The bottom shelf selection is what you look for when you’re trying to serve a lot of people on not a lot of money, so you sacrifice a bit on flavor. Quantity over quality. But Evan Williams Black changed our expectations of what a bottom-shelf priced bourbon can offer.
Somehow, Evan Williams Black manages to squeeze a ton of flavor into an inexpensive bottle. There’s the traditional bourbon flavors of light oak and vanilla with a bit of citrus undertones. The corn mashbill is on full display in the flavor with mild caramel sweetness and some added sour twists and a few underlying notes of peppercorn and oak. The finish is short and sweet with just a peek at some rye spice flavors. It’s a perfectly enjoyable sip that is unmistakably bourbon.
Now to be perfectly clear – Evan Williams Black is not a mind-blowingly complex bourbon and it’s not the best bourbon you’ll ever taste. But it really doesn’t have to be. Instead Evan Williams Black is the dependable bourbon option – you know you can always find it, always afford it, and works just fine in any glass, drink, or cocktail.
STATS: Evan Williams Black
- Price for us: $14 for 750 mL
- Proof: 86
- Aged: NAS, but at least 4 Years
- Distillery: Evan Williams, owned by Heaven Hill
- Recommendation: Mixer
