Evan Williams Single Barrel 1991 (pre-fire)

Experience a piece of bourbon history with the Evan Williams Single Barrel Vintage 1991. This award-winning expression, aged for nearly a decade, offers an elegant symphony of matured oak, rich caramel, and dried fruits, culminating in a smooth, lingering finish. A true connoisseur's delight, each bottle tells a unique story of its vintage.

Tasting Notes

Nose: A sophisticated and inviting bouquet. Expect a delightful interplay of dried dark fruits – fig, date, and raisin – gracefully mingling with classic bourbon notes of vanilla bean, caramel, and a hint of butterscotch. Underlying these are nuanced oak influences, manifesting as aged leather, subtle tobacco leaf, and a delicate spice profile of cinnamon and nutmeg, perhaps even a whisper of dried apple. There's a mature, well-integrated sweetness, hinting at the long slumber in wood.

Palate: The entry is remarkably smooth for its proof, belying its age with a velvety texture. Flavors explode on the tongue, mirroring the nose but with added depth. Rich caramel and toffee notes lead, followed by a persistent wave of vanilla and baking spices. The oak presence is pronounced but beautifully balanced, delivering flavors of roasted nuts, dark chocolate, and a pleasant tannic grip that never becomes astringent. Hints of dried orange peel and a delicate cherry note emerge in the mid-palate, adding layers of complexity.

Finish: Long, warm, and lingering. The finish is a testament to its vintage and maturation, showcasing a harmonious blend of sweet oak, fading caramel, and a pleasant peppery spice that gently recedes. A whisper of pipe tobacco and dark fruit persists, inviting another sip. It's a remarkably clean finish, leaving behind a memorable impression of aged elegance.

About the Distillery

Evan Williams is a brand produced by Heaven Hill Distillery, one of Kentucky's largest independent, family-owned producers of distilled spirits. Established in 1935, Heaven Hill has a rich history of crafting quality bourbons and is known for its extensive aging warehouses and commitment to traditional production methods. The Evan Williams brand itself honors Kentucky's first distiller, who began commercial distillation in 1783.