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 18th 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.
Comments
Post a Comment
As we should drink in moderation, all comments are subject to it. Cheers!