Evan Williams Single Barrel Vintage 2015

Barreled 1/6/2015 Barrel #350 Bottled 2/15/2024 Firstly, I must express my great excitement upon learning a few weeks ago that this particular expression was returning to store shelves and was no longer exclusive to the distillery. A couple of years prior, I managed to acquire some of the final stock from the 2013 bottling. I enjoyed it immensely and regretted its departure from my collection. Color: Medium Copper-Amber Nose: Molasses, vanilla, oak, with a slight sting/tingle in the nostrils. Palate: (First serving consumed neat) Medium body – slightly "syrupy" and very smooth; a gentle warmth is felt; it offers a pleasant balance of spice and sweetness; the flavor profile is somewhat subtle, but there's enough going on to make it a highly enjoyable, relatively low-proof sipper. Oak char is noticeable on the finish after swirling... (Second serving consumed with an ice cube) Similar initial experience as the neat serving. However, I like to observe the changes as the ice melts. The ice appears to have amplified some sweetness – slightly reducing the spiciness... and it also revealed some licorice (anise?) at the back of the tongue. Quite pleasing! Finish: Medium length with a faint citrus note emerging at the rear of the palate... and, as just mentioned, licorice is added to the finish with ice. Overall assessment: As I was saying, the recent availability of this spirit truly made my year – and it was only April! I sampled some higher-proof spirits this past weekend, and the difference in complexity between an 86 proof and a 130 proof is truly remarkable. But so what? This is a personal favorite. Excellent Kentucky Bourbon... and at under $30, it's even better.

Nose: Hints of brown sugar, buttery notes, charred wood, citrus (likely orange), maple, and warm spices. Taste: A light thickness with caramel, oak, baking spices, brown sugar, a touch of orange marmalade, and subtle nutty undertones. Aftertaste: Lingering notes of burnt oak, toasted brown sugar, baking spices, and a touch of bitter walnut.

Aged in 2015, barrel number 400, and bottled in 2024. It has a decent flavor and drinks as expected for its low alcohol content.