Evan Williams
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Aged 12 Years
Heaven Hill Distillery
101 Proof
MSRP: $130
Review
Please enjoy our Evan Williams 12 Year Bourbon review by Ray Marcano!
It’s an easy drinker that I wish was more widely available.
History
The Evan Williams Aged 12 Years used to be sold only in Japan as an export-only product. However, you can now find the bourbon at the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience in Louisville, the only place in the country that makes the 12-year available. Interestingly, there is a significant price difference depending on where you buy it. A recent Reddit poster from Japan stated that they paid 3800 yen, or roughly 31 dollars (at the time) for the Evan Williams 12 Year Bourbon. That is quite a difference from the $130 price tag in the U.S.!! However, you do get gold wax over the top in the U.S. version!
Mash Bill:
78% Corn, 12% Malted Barley, 10% Rye
Tasting notes
Let’s taste it:
🛏 Rested for 15 minutes in a Glencairn
👉🏻Nose: Brown sugar, oak, honey, caramel
👉🏻Taste: Pepper, rye, cloves, cinnamon, vanilla, sweet caramel
👉🏻Finish: Rye, cinnamon, honey, oak
Summary
I’m a big Evan Williams fan, and the Evan Williams 12 Year Bourbon is my overall favorite. It has all of the classic bourbon notes, though I’m surprised by the presence of so much spice. It’s only 10% rye, but the bourbon delivers a nice kick. It’s well balanced with a medium-long finish and nicely coats the inside of your mouth.
Conclusion
There aren’t too many bourbons worth making a special drive to get, but the Evan Williams 12 Year is one of them. It has just the right amount of heat at the end that makes for a perfect fall or winter drink. The only problem — I want to drink it all the time, even at the $130 price point. If you’re in Louisville, make sure you stop by the Evan Williams Experience and get a bottle of the Evan Williams Aged 12 Years bourbon. You won’t regret it.
I hope you have enjoyed our Evan Williams 12 Year Bourbon review by Ray Marcano. Ray publishes a free monthly newsletter, The Bourbon Resource. You can subscribe here. Next, learn about more Evan Williams Bourbons in our Evan Williams Bourbon Review and our Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon Review!
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