Thursday, November 5, 2009

Exam-o-dram – 2000 Evan Williams Single Barrel

I've been collecting this particular release for some time now and I have bottles that go back to 1988 distillation. The EWSB was first released in 1996 with a distillation of 1986. I have not had the first release but a friend of mine who has informed me it wasn't that good. In fact, the first release was 1995 but was not distributed at the retail level but was done more as a test run, at least that's the story told to me. The EWSB has received a number of awards over the years as reported on the Evan Williams website. The nice thing about this particular bourbon is that it's a well aged bourbon, single barrel proofed at 86.6 and runs around $20 a 750ml. Keep in mind that since it's a single barrel, there will be variations from bottle to bottle.

This year Evan Williams Single Barrel (EWSB) is sporting a new look which I actually like over the previous packaging. It's a clean simple look as far as the labeling goes, the bottle shape and black wax remains as in previous releases. The label size is under proportioned to the bottle as compared to other bourbons and I like this as it allows me an unobstructed look through the glass getting the full exposure of color.

The color is a moderate shade with hues of orange and gold, depending how it's held up to the light, in fact, the color caught my eye as I was reaching for the bottle in the package store.

Nosing this bourbon is interesting and I think more complex that other variants I've had over the years. My first thought when nosing was it smelled more like a rye whiskey than rye bourbon. On the nose is oak, rye, blue flowers and muted aspects of bubble gum, smoke and vanilla. On entry this bourbon is a little zinger; not overpowering but the rye is very present. Secondary attributes are a mild sweetness after the rye subsides, blue flowers, leather and mild flavors of bubble gum and smoke. I think the finish is unfortunately understated and dry as the short burst of rye on entry diminishes too quickly and leaves the drinker wishing for more.

I like the opening nose and flavors of this bourbon but wish the finish was longer. I purchased this bottle in the Virginia ABC store and paid $23.95 for it. This bottle was barreled on 3-30-00 and bottled on 10-14-09 from barrel 37.

18 comments:

  1. Hi Greg. I was interested in picking this one up for my bunker. How did it compare to previous years offerings, and would you recommend that other purchase it, or were unimpressed enough to recommend others pass this year up?

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  2. Blue Flowers? Really? See October 27th's post on Spinning the Spice Rack! LOL

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  3. Don - I kind of chuckled as I wrote this one thinking back on my spice rack analogy....but, in my defense, floral tones, especially blue floral is a quality of rye whiskey and in this case, was evident in this release of EWSB.

    As far as a recommendation, being that these are single barrel offerings, I would say pick it up. Because of the age and the various qualities I picked up on the nose, my anticipation of a decent finish wasn't realized thus my disappointment. Even with that, I would say it's a better than average pour and worth getting based on age, price and it being a single barrel.

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  4. Nice job Greg on your review of this product. While the review that I would give would be slightly different that is the nature of the single barrel offerings. I feel that the finish that I got from my bottle was decent and expecting what I do from something so low in proof I was happy with it.
    My taste memory may not be the best in the world but I am really liking this bottle over the previous years that I have tried. I will be picking up more bottles from this barrel (#16) when I get a chance.

    PS. Blue flowers lol

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  5. Thank you Dan. To amplify your point, anyone looking to purchase this bottle should do so regardless of this review. Some people like a consistent profile and thus don't really care for single barrel offerings. I'm the opposite, I really like the variety I get from single barrel bourbons. The EWSB is a good bourbon year over year, obviously some better than others. But as you pointed out Dan, you're picking up bottles from barrel #16 and I'm finding #37 and we both live in VA. You also make a valid point about the proof and finish relationship and I agree that could be part of what I'm experiencing. I have other bourbons within the same proof range that have longer, more satisfying finishes which is why I called this one out.

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  6. I could not agree more Greg. EWSB are just that single barrels. Every barrel is going to be different but there will be consistency. So for the price range of 25.00 this is always a safe bet that will not let you down.
    Greg with the proof/finish relationship you said you have had equal proof offerings that had a longer/fuller finish. Were these bottles recent offerings or dusties?
    I will have to bring you a sample of my bottle to compare. Along with something new from the people at WT

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  7. Two that I think have better finishes are Baby Saz and AAA 10 year, and then there are the dusty's like Yellowstone and Early Times that have great finishes. It may not be fair to judge a current bourbon with a dusty one but for me, bourbon is bourbon and separating them out I think dilutes the overall experience. I don't divide my drinking into current release one week and dusty the next....it's all bourbon and I drink what fancy's me.

    When you drop by next week, please do bring a sample of barrel #16, I'm very interested to see how it compares. I'll pull a sample from my bottle so you can do the same.

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  8. wow..2000 Evan Williams Single Barrel looks good. It's an ideal gift for a friend with a strong penchant for alcoholic beverages.

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  9. I stopped at one of my local ABC stores today to hopefully find a EWSB dated 10-8-09 for my sons Birthday. No luck but this store did have Barrel #37 bottles.

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  10. Where you been Greg? Haven't seen you around the web sites lately. My wife is digging out the Pecan Pie recipe. It takes her a while. I haven't forgotten.
    -Don

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  11. Thanks Don. I'm in busy mode right now working on some expansion for my business so it keeps me working later into the night. Not a lot of time to troll and respond on the bourbon sites. I'm here, just buried.

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  12. Good to know. With the recent spate of old timers leaving the BE site its good to know you aren't one of them! Hope you are unburied soon.

    Don

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  13. Not that you're an old timer...

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  14. I've only had one of these (98) and just added a 99 to the bunker, but it runs around $28 here. Elijah Craig 12yr is about $10 cheaper (and although I've had bad luck with funky bottles recently) and I'll almost always opt for that one as it is older and higher proof.

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  15. Older and higher proof doesn't really mean a lot in the long run >.>

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  16. True on both counts but higher proof allows the drinker to vary their drinking proof. I have quite a few bottles at proof that handle water better or worse cut to various proofs. I've had extra aged selections that really weren't that good, e.g. FRSB 100th Anniversary. So, if I had to pick, I would pick a higher proof selection over extra age.

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  17. well worth the $20 a bottle And being a single barrel the variations can be quite nice.

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