Oak | Vanilla | Green peppercorn | Very light brown sugar | Faint tobacco leaf | Light

Rye spice | Vanilla | Oak | Light cinnamon powder | Caramel | Thin mouthfeel

Oak | Sweet vanilla | Rye spice | Light caramel | Short

Evan Williams is one of Kentucky’s most prominent bourbon brands, with a portfolio that includes a multitude of bourbons, flavored whiskeys, and liqueurs. The vintage date on the bottle is representative of the year the bourbon was put into oak, with year-over-year vintages being released on an ongoing and consistent basis, often with multiple vintages found on store shelves simultaneously. In the early 2020s, Heaven Hill announced that Evan Williams Single Barrel would be moving to a Kentucky-only product. On our latest visit to the Evan Williams experience in January 2026, a brand representative told us that this product is once again being distributed outside Kentucky.

Evan Williams Single Barrel is known for its classic flavor profile, and that’s represented throughout this specific single barrel. The whiskey starts with a dose of classic scents that come together nicely; however, are undeniably light at the same time. This classic theme carries through to the palate, which is balanced but thin, and through to the short finish.

The age has slowly crept up on Evan Williams Single Barrel releases, as the last 2011 vintage we reviewed was more in line with the 7-8 year age statements at the time. While drifting back up towards the classic 10 year age statement is nice to see, it also doesn’t impact the sip as much as expected. Classic flavor notes persist through and through, but at least in this particular single barrel’s case, it’s about as average as average comes. Yet thanks to its consistently low price, consumers are still afforded a single barrel product from a major Kentucky distillery, which is a rarity in today’s marketplace. Evan Williams Single Barrels are known to be consistently average to good, which is the case for this 2016 vintage, and in the end, consumers win when taking into consideration the price being asked.

‍The bourbon in review is from barrel number 1369, barreled on 3/1/16, and bottled on 4/1/25.