Evan Williams 200th Anniversary

Tried it neat. A sample was given to me by a friend. This was bottled in 1983. It's the oldest bourbon I've ever sampled based on bottling date, and my first time tasting Heaven Hill from before the fire. So, I'm really looking forward to and grateful for the chance to try it today. For only 86 proof, it's quite robust and slick. It reminds me of Wild Turkey 17; its low proof shouldn't fool you. The aroma has sweet corn, caramel, and a wonderful cherry scent. Some pleasant vanilla and pie crust notes appear, eventually resembling a fruit tart. As it sits, I detect chocolate and cinnamon. Even a touch of honey. A nutty element is also developing. Honestly, it's a nearly flawless aroma. Sweet, delightful, and changing. It has a smooth, creamy feel that truly awakens the mouth. A burst of fruits hits the tongue, like cherry, apple, and raspberries. So sweet. It then shifts to rich caramel and oak. The legs bring back a very pleasant cherry finish. Once more, despite its lower proof, it's quite slick, giving it a satisfying medium to long finish. I was born the year this came out. Tasting this makes that year even more meaningful to me. This is an absolutely perfect bourbon. I have an ounce of the sample remaining, which I will treasure and save for a special moment.

It possesses a taste that is absent in many spirits made today. It felt almost like a memory.