Similar Bourbon to Evan Williams & Best Alternatives

Last Updated on: 2nd May 2024, 06:22 pm

J Highland

J Highland is a certified sommelier with 30 years in the liquor industry, owning a pub, a liquor store, and moonlighting as a spirits distiller.

Written by: J Highland

The Perfect Evan Williams Alternative: A Guide for Every Palate

This guide explores bourbons catering to a range of preferences, keeping Evan Williams' smooth and affordable character in mind.

For the Smooth Operator:

• Henry McKenna Bourbon: Prioritizes smoothness with a light caramel aroma and notes of vanilla and corn. Perfect for casual sippers or those new to bourbon.

For the Budget-Minded Beginner:

• Benchmark Bourbon: An affordable and easygoing entry point with a sweet nose of maple, vanilla, and banana bread. A great starting point for new bourbon drinkers.

For the Value-Conscious:

• Old Grand Dad Bourbon: Offers a pleasant experience at an attractive price. While not complex, its smooth profile makes it great for casual drinking or mixing in cocktails.

For the Fruity Twist Seeker:

• Early Times Bourbon: A smooth and affordable bourbon with a unique apricot note alongside caramel and spice. Perfect for those seeking a touch of intrigue in their bourbon.

For the Evan Williams Upgrade:

• Evan Williams Single Barrel: A richer version of Evan Williams with a sweeter nose of vanilla and cotton candy. Offers a smooth taste with notes of honey, spice, and oak.

For the Cocktail Enthusiast:

• Wild Turkey 81 Bourbon: An ideal choice for creating delicious cocktails due to its subtle sweetness and oak character. Enjoyable neat as well, with ice tempering the warmth.

For the Complexity Seeker on a Budget:

• Old Forester 86: Outshines Evan Williams in complexity with a well-rounded flavor profile of vanilla, banana, spice, and oak. Perfect for sipping neat or on the rocks.

The Evan Williams Benchmark:

• Sweet & Smooth: Evan Williams is known for its pleasant sweetness and smooth mouthfeel, making it enjoyable for everyday drinking.
• Affordable: A budget-friendly bourbon option for both sipping and mixing.
• Versatile: Can be enjoyed neat, on the rocks, or in cocktails.

Why These Bourbon Options?

• Smoothness Spectrum: These selections offer varying levels of smoothness, catering to preferences for a silky or more robust mouthfeel.
• Proof & Price Range: The options range in proof and price, allowing you to find a bourbon that fits your budget and drinking style.
• Sipping & Cocktails: This list considers both sipping enjoyment and how the bourbon would perform in cocktails.

Beyond Evan Williams:

• Unique Twists: While some bourbons echo Evan Williams' profile, others offer distinct flavor notes to broaden your bourbon horizons.

This guide empowers you to explore the world of bourbon and discover your perfect match, whether it's a smooth and familiar experience or a new and exciting flavor adventure.

Quick Note: Running a pub and liquor store provides me ample access to various spirits, in addition, I moonlight as a spirits distiller. I assess them using customer feedback, expert opinions and online research.

List of Similar Bourbons to Evan Williams

Prices are approximate and stated in USD:

Henry McKenna Bourbon: Smooth, Sweet, and Affordable

• Nose: Caramel, vanilla, corn
• Palate: Caramel, vanilla, corn, oak spice
• Finish: Caramel, oak spice
• Alcohol content: 80 proof (40% ABV)
• How to drink: Rocks, cocktails

Looking for a budget-friendly bourbon that prioritizes smoothness? Look no further than Henry McKenna. Crafted at Heaven Hill Distillery (home to Elijah Craig and Evan Williams), this 4-year-aged bourbon boasts a light caramel aroma with hints of vanilla and corn. The taste follows suit, offering a smooth, sweet experience with notes of caramel, corn, and subtle oak spice.

Despite its affordable price tag, Henry McKenna avoids harsh flavors, making it a great choice for casual sippers or those new to bourbon, states whiskey expert Neil Coleman.

Benchmark Bourbon: Affordable Smoothness for Beginners

• Nose: Maple, vanilla, banana bread
• Palate: Caramel, cinnamon, oak
• Finish: Vanilla, oak spice, caramel
• Alcohol content: 80 proof (40% ABV)
• How to drink: Add water

Benchmark offers a budget-friendly entry to bourbon. Made at Buffalo Trace, this 2-year-aged sipper boasts a sweet nose of maple, vanilla, and banana bread. The taste is thin but smooth, with hints of vanilla and caramel. While the finish is short, it lacks harshness, making Benchmark great for neat sipping.

New to bourbon? Benchmark's affordability and easygoing flavor profile make it a solid starting point. Just know it might not hold up in bolder cocktails.

Old Grand Dad Bourbon: Easygoing and Affordable

• Nose: Vanilla, oak, rye spice
• Palate: Rye spice, oak, sweet corn, brown sugar, cinnamon
• Finish: Short-lived, warm, spicy
• Alcohol content: 80 proof (40% ABV)
• How to drink: Add water

Old Grand Dad offers a pleasant sipper at an attractive price. The aroma is inviting with hints of vanilla, oak, and rye spice. Take a sip and you'll be greeted by a burst of rye spice that mellows to reveal sweeter notes of corn, brown sugar, and cinnamon. The finish is short and smooth with a touch of oak, making it easy to drink.

While Old Grand Dad might not be complex, it's easy on the wallet and the palate. Its smooth profile makes it a great choice for casual drinking or mixing in your favorite cocktails.

Early Times Bourbon: Smooth Value with a Fruity Twist

• Nose: Apricot, vanilla, caramel
• Palate: Apricot, caramel, nuts, spice
• Finish: Short, fruity, oak spice
• Alcohol content: 80 proof (40% ABV)
• How to drink: Rocks, cocktails

Early Times offers a budget-friendly bourbon with a surprising twist. The nose is light and inviting with hints of apricot, vanilla, and caramel. The taste is smooth and surprisingly sweet, featuring apricot, caramel, roasted nuts, and a touch of spice. While the finish is short with some oak and a hint of acetone, the overall experience is pleasant and easygoing.

Early Times is perfect for those seeking a smooth, affordable bourbon. Its unique fruity notes add a touch of intrigue to cocktails. Plus, its lack of harshness makes it a great choice for casual sipping neat or on the rocks.

Evan Williams Single Barrel: A Step Up from Classic Evan

• Nose: Vanilla, oak, cotton candy
• Palate: Spice, honey, vanilla, oak
• Finish: Medium-length, honey, spice
• Alcohol content: 86 proof (43% ABV)
• How to drink: Rocks

Craving a richer Evan Williams experience? Look no further than the Single Barrel. This upgraded version boasts a sweeter nose with prominent vanilla, cotton candy hints, and subtle oak. The taste is smooth, offering initial spice that gives way to honey, vanilla, and a touch of oak. While the finish is dry with minimal heat, honey and spice linger pleasantly.

Wild Turkey 81 Bourbon: Subtle Sweetness

• Nose: Corn, vanilla, charred oak
• Palate: Oak, corn, vanilla, rye spice, caramel
• Finish: Medium-length, vanilla, spice, oak
• Alcohol content: 81 proof (40.5% ABV)
• How to drink: Cocktails

The Turkey 81 offers a delightful aroma with subtle notes of corn, vanilla, and a touch of charred oak.

Taking a sip reveals a sweetness dominated by corn and vanilla flavors, accented by rye spice and charred oak, characteristic of Wild Turkey Bourbons.

The medium-length finish presents a gentle warmth with lingering sweetness, balanced by hints of charred oak.

This 81-proof bourbon is an ideal choice for creating delicious cocktails without breaking the bank. Adding ice while sipping neat can further elevate the experience by tempering the warmth and oak bitterness.

Old Forester 86: Budget-Friendly But Balanced

• Nose: Brown sugar, caramel, ethanol
• Palate: Vanilla, banana, oak, spice
• Finish: Caramel, oak
• Alcohol content: 86 proof (43% ABV)
• How to drink: Rocks, cocktails

Old Forester 86 opens with a hint of alcohol, but eases into warm brown sugar and caramel aromas.

The taste is well-rounded with vanilla, banana, and spice, backed by a light oak touch.

The short finish lingers with caramel and oak, offering easy drinking at 86-proof. It outshines Evan Williams in complexity providing a good sip.

Evan Williams Black Label: Sweet & Smooth for Everyday Enjoyment

• Nose: Caramel, vanilla, honey, ethanol
• Palate: Honey, spice, old leather, oak char
• Finish: Old leather, oak char, spice
• Alcohol content: 90 proof (45% ABV)
• How to drink: Add water

Evan Williams Black Label greets you with a pleasant aroma of honey, caramel, and vanilla, with a subtle alcohol touch.

The taste offers a satisfying body and texture, starting with sweetness and hints of leather and oak.

A drop of water unlocks more caramel sweetness and smooths out the finish, which can be slightly spicy and warm.

Evan Williams Black Label delivers good value. It's a versatile and affordable choice for cocktails or everyday sipping.