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If you aren't already a big fan of Heaven Hill, the Evan Williams Vintage series might be just the thing to turn you onto them. Formerly a Kentucky exclusive, the Vintage series are all single barrels with the novelty that each iteration gets a "vintage" much like wine, noting the year in which the whiskey was barreled. They're usually pretty close to eight years of age, though it does vary +/- six months in my experience. The U.S. doesn't have access to a recurring high aged bottling under the Evan Williams Brand (the 12-year occasionally pops up at the distillery or Evan Williams Experience - but I've never seen one), so this is as close as many will get to that experience. These barrels are pulled based on being true to the Evan Williams profile and are remarkably consistent for single barrels, though you will find some fun nuance in the mix. I was a pretty big fan of the 2015 Vintage, having worked my way though a handful of them, and was excited to pick this 2016 up.
🛒Sourced: $35.99 - Tower Spirits, GA 750ml
🧪Proof: 43.3 proof, 86.6% ABV - On the lower end for bourbon, but it has some extra age to help it out.
🎨Color: R3 - A peachy orange sunshine, lighter than I may have expected
🥔Mash Bill: 78% Corn, 12% Malted Barley, 10% Rye - the tried and true Heaven Hill Regular (or HH Reg for short). This versatile low rye mash can be found in all Evan Williams bottlings in addition to Elijah Craig, Heaven Hill Bonded, Henry McKenna, JW Dant, and JTS brown. It ages well into its second decade and can pick up a variety of characters based on aging duration and environment. Around 85% of Heaven Hill's production is HH Reg, and they've gotten very good at learning the temperaments of each of the rickhouses in order to pull barrels with consistent characteristics.
This bottle is from Barrel 554 filled on 9/13/16 and bottled on 10/9/24 for a total aging duration of just over eight years.
👃Nose: Very approachable, bombs of vanilla with anise, some floral notes, distinctive mint to round it out. A creamy herbal tea at a garden party.
😜Palate: Light and easy drinking though the flavor is still nicely full. The Evan Williams caramel and vanilla are in full display from the onset. Mid-palate I'm finding black tea, fresh vine, and pea-pod. There are a couple of other notes in the mix that make me think "plant", but I'm struggling to isolate one as more dominant. Slight aspects of the quintessential Heaven Hill mint, less here than on the nose.
💦Finish: Vanilla Sunshine, scantly warm but downright pleasant. The heat is vanishingly short but you get to enjoy the vanilla bean aftertaste for a few good moments.
🏆 Overall: 6.5/10 - Great, Another Solid Year - Don't let the relatively low proof deceive you, this is a tasty bottle! You get a quality bourbon for less than $5 a year of aging. Very similar to highland scotches, the water addition makes it easier to pick out accompanying or non-traditional bourbon flavors. While I remember calling for more veg last year, this one is maybe a bit past my tipping point, more due to number of flavors than what those flavors are. That being said, it's thoroughly enjoyable. Hazmat has its place, but Evan Williams Vintage proves that lower temps can be equally as fun.
💵Would buy again? Absolutely, I'll inevitably pick up more bottles from this year's vintage and you can write me down for next year's release as well.
⚖️Rating Scale:
2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume it by choice.
3 | Bad | Multiple flaws | Struggle to get through the bottle
4 | Serviceable | Mixing or ice recommended.
5 | Good | Drinkable Neat | An agreeable dram indeed.
6 | Very Good | Any flaws offset by interesting flavors | A cut above.
7 | Great | You find yourself reaching for this one often | Well above average.
8 | Excellent | Serve to Impress Guests | Really quite exceptional.
9 | Incredible | An all time favorite | You guard this bottle jealously.