Evan Williams 'Extra Aged' goes by the name 'Black Label' in the US. It's distilled at Heaven Hill in Bardstown Kentucky and is a minimum of two years of age given that it's a 'straight' bourbon whiskey - one hopes a wee bit more given the 'extra aged' moniker. The brand was founded in the mid 1900's though the labelling would have you believe that settler Evan Williams founded it in 1783 and that its been in existence the whole time. Ah, marketing.
Evan Williams Extra Aged is made from a mashbill of 75% Corn, 13% Rye, 12% Malted Barley with the barrel having been charred to a medium level.
Nose: A big hit of sticky toffee, butterscotch and bananas (sweet shop foam ones). Light liquorice and a fair dose of both wood glue and sharp oak bitterness.
Taste: Vanilla front and centre, but seems like an extract or lab-version rather than the real thing. A touch strange. Popcorn and caramel make for a fairly sweet affair. Both desiccated coconut and notes of plastic to be found.
Finish: Short and drying with peppery spice.
A solid, if largely unadventurous bourbon, but at a great price which improves the proposition a few notches. It might look a bit like Jack Daniels but it's arguably a better-made liquid. I'd still be thinking about mixing this though. It's not a sipper to my palate.
Score: 78/100