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REFINED VICES • Review: Evan Williams Single Barrel Vintage 1996
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Review: Evan Williams Single Barrel Vintage 1996

Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2007 5:05 pm
by Count Silvio
Read the full article on the frontpage.
Evan Williams is bright brown with core highlights that are nearly red in this refined decanter. The cork is protected by a black rubber seal that goes all the way down to the end of the bottles bubbled neck. Markings on the front label clearly indicate the whiskey was put in oak in 1996 as do the handwritten notes, which add a touch of individuality, on the back label. Around the neck is a small booklet praising the quality of Evan Williams Single Barrel and listing some awards it has won over the years. All these little details make the bottle of Evan Williams Single Barrel very inviting and attractive.


I could hardly wait to finally open this bottle for review after 5 long months it had been calling my name on the shelf. But it wasn't going to be easy to get to its contents as the rip cord of the wax seal didn't work and I actually had use a knife to cut through the thick rubber and then through the odd plastic cover under it. It appears this bourbon was determined to pique my anticipation as it made me wait a little while longer - it took nigh on 10 minutes to open the bottle.

Posted: Thu Dec 06, 2007 1:09 am
by Rum Runner
Nice review Count. Always happy here to see that the Yanks can still put up a very nice product.

Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2007 6:21 pm
by Count Silvio
I appreciated this whiskey but I don't think it is still quite as good as Wild Turkey. Theres something about that Turkey...

Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2007 8:59 pm
by Rum Runner
Which particular bottling of Wild Turkey are you refering to Dear Count?

Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2007 9:04 pm
by Count Silvio
The standard 8 Year old. It doesn't require me to be in any mood for it like the Evan Williams might.

Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2007 9:36 pm
by Rum Runner
So, is your conclusion between the two based on the taste profile, or economy?

Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2007 9:50 pm
by Count Silvio
It is complicated. Both of them were priced very nicely at the place where I bought them (surprisingly neither are available here :roll:). Price aside I like the taste of both but the Wild Turkey is more easily approachable and makes an excellent whiskey cola, not that I've tried the Evan Williams with cola yet, call me blasphemous for suggesting EW&Coke if you will. Both have their strenghts and weaknesses. Maybe I'm just used to Wild Turkey. I would post a review on the frontpage of it if I had a full bottle to photograph in my lightbox.

Posted: Sat Dec 08, 2007 12:04 am
by Rum Runner
I think you hit upon an interesting point here Count. The fact that the "Turkey" may be what you're more used to (and prefer) as opposed to the more ellucid EW. The fact that you gave EW such a high mark in your review tells me that you did a nice job and tried to put aside your own preferences in assessing this (EW) Whiskey. This is to be commended in a critcal review. As ones' tasting base grows...So does ones' perspective. Personally I have always liked the "leaner" mouth feel of Whiskeys such as Old Weller. Plenty of Aroma, Flavor, and Finish, but more dry, astringent, and tart in the mouth. However, I have no problem in appreciatiing the full, rich, oily feel of Makers Mark. Vive la differrance!...With apologies for my bad French.

Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2007 2:23 pm
by AngelSword
Have you tried Elijah Craig 12 yr. or 18 yr.? Both represent a higher level of bourbon from the same Heaven Hill distillery. I like it far better than the Turkey and truly do not care for EW. Overall I am not a big fan of many of the Heaven Hill products. But after spending a couple of days at their distillery, I did develop an appreciation of the Elijah Craig. Smoother, richer, and more complex than EW.

Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2007 2:57 pm
by Count Silvio
I'm afraid I haven't tried Elijah Craig. I guess I will have to keep an eye for it next time.