Evan Williams 1783 Small Batch Bourbon Review

If you’re into Bourbon, you know the name Evan Williams. According to history, or at least Bourbon lore, Evan Williams was the first Kentucky distiller who started his trade in 1783. However, there’s something to always remember regarding American distilling backstories: they’re fun, but you can’t always take them at face value. There is a lot of creative licensing and frequently straight bullshit that you have to wade through to get what may or may not be the truth.

 

The truth is that there really was an Evan Williams. He was a Welsh immigrant who made his way to the United States and settled in Louisville, Kentucky, sometime around the latter part of the 18^th century. He was a distiller. He was also the first wharf manager in Louisville in 1797. But was he the first Kentucky distiller? Probably not.

 

If you trust Michael Veach of the Filson Historical Society (and I do), Williams didn’t emigrate to the United States until 1794, when he departed London and arrived in Philadelphia.

 

All tall tales aside, Evan Williams is an iconic American whiskey brand. It is consistently one of the top-three-selling Kentucky Straight Bourbon labels. It produces a handful of expressions, including its flagship Black Label, Bottled-in-Bond White Label, a low-proof Green Label, a 12-year Red Label, and a now limited-edition Single Barrel. Yet, there’s one more that is more of an Oh, yeah option: 1783 Small Batch.

 

Let’s take a tiny break here. The term Small Batch is not legally-defined. It is purely a marketing term. A “small” batch can be one to a million barrels. It implies a certain level of quality.

 

It carries no age statement and is distilled from a mash of 78% corn, 12% malted barley, and 10% rye. According to Heaven Hill, which produces Evan Williams, it ranges between six and eight years in new, charred oak barrels. When it was initially released, 1783 Small Batch was packaged at 43% ABV (86°). However, in 2021, ABV increased to 45% (90°). And, in the case of how many barrels are in this small batch, Heaven Hill suggests it is about 300 or fewer.

 

Evan Williams 1783 is affordable by most people’s definition, with a 750ml bottle selling for around $20.00. It is also available in a 1.75L and a 375ml. I acquired the latter from a Denver liquor store.

 

The price is nice, but how’s the Bourbon? The only way to answer that is to #DrinkCurious.

 

Appearance: I poured this whiskey into my Glencairn glass and sipped it neat. It showed off a deep, bronze color. A gentle swirl formed a burly rim and slow, thick tears.

 

Nose: The aroma was more complex than you’d guess from the price. I smelled corn, caramel, marshmallow fluff, ripe cherry, and charred oak. As I inhaled through my lips, the marshmallow became toasted.

 

Palate: The mouthfeel was medium-bodied. Flavors of brown sugar, Cinnamon Chex, and vanilla were easily identified at the front. I found orange peel, ripe cherry, and caramel at my palate's mid-point. The back tasted of charred oak, black pepper, and hazelnuts.  

 

Finish: The medium-to-long duration included brown sugar, corn, charred oak, black pepper, and cinnamon. That cinnamon stuck around.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: Price notwithstanding, Evan Williams 1783 has much to offer. It has a lovely nose and is flavorful. You can sip it year-round, even on a hot summer day. It certainly doesn’t drink like a cheap whiskey and provides an excellent opportunity to #RespectTheBottomShelf. If you see it, you should pick one up; it deserves my Bottle rating. Cheers!

 

My Simple, Easy-to-Understand Rating System

• Bottle = Buy It
• Bar = Try It
• Bust = Leave It

 

Whiskeyfellow encourages you to enjoy your whiskey as you see fit but begs you do so responsibly.