| Rating | 89 |
| Style |
Bourbon American Whiskey Whiskey |
| Produced In |
Kentucky United States |
| ABV | 43% |
| Availability | Year Round |
| Price | $15.00 |
| Reviewed By | |
| Reviewed | 2026-02-18 |
Evan Williams Black Review
Who said there are no deals still to be found in bourbon? To get a Heaven Hill distilled straight bourbon for less than a 20 in this day and age is downright remarkable. Sure, it’s not anything to write home about, but if you’re a broke 22-year-old wanting to check out this thing called bourbon, there are worse places to start. A cheap screwcap unveils wisps of vanilla leading to a simple palate of caramel and oak; a decent mouthfeel and finish despite the meager 86 proof. Forget the allocated luxury bottles, perhaps this is the sort of release the industry needs to offer more of if they will continue to find new, young drinkers to bring into the fold.
As of 2024, VinePair no longer participates in any affiliate programs. All links included in our content are as a convenience to our readers, not for earning commission — we receive no monetary value from them. Learn more about our tastings & review department here!
Related Reads
Learn About Bourbon
Related Evan Williams Reviews
Evan Williams 12-Year-Old Red Label:
This distillery-only release that should have you packing a suitcase with Kentucky as the destination. Everything about this 12-year-old, ...
Related Bourbon Reviews
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Batch A125:
Heaven Hill’s Elijah Craig Barrel Proof bourbon is usually one of the calendar year’s first limited American whiskey releases. The ...
Widow Jane 10 Year Bourbon:
This Brooklyn distillery (owned by Heaven Hill) uses a variety of bourbons sourced from various distilleries in Kentucky, Tennessee, and ...
Barrell Foundation Double Barrel Bourbon:
Since 2013, Louisville-based Barrell Craft Spirits has released a wide variety of blends, single barrels, and finished whiskeys. Perhaps ...
Featured Bourbon Articles
The Ideal Age for Bourbon, According to 9 of America’s Top Whiskey Pros:
In the post-bourbon boom, buyers at home and abroad are clamoring for older American whiskey, but how old should bourbon really be?
With Vintage Spirit Stocks Dwindling, Collectors Turn to Recently Discontinued Bottlings:
Vintage booze is getting more challenging to find, and many spirits collectors now have their sights set on recently discontinued bottles.
More Bourbon Distilleries Are Closing. So What Happens to the Whiskey?:
What remains from shuttered producers — sometimes called “ghost distilleries” — are aging and evaporating spirits. Then what happens?
Why the Mule Is the Ultimate Workhorse Cocktail:
We may be living through the age of the aperitivo and Martini madness, but the true workhorse cocktail is the Mule.
