Day 18 is the longest name yet: Evan Williams Single Barrel Vintage 2004, a “Straight Bourbon Whiskey” that’s 43.3% alcohol. 
This one announces its presence as soon as it’s in the glass, with Christina noting that she could smell it from about 5 feet away as she came into the kitchen. “It smells warm” she said. I’m getting a lot of alcohol — more than I expected given the alcohol content — and not much else. There are some woody notes, maybe? We agree that the taste is kind of lost under the booziness, with Christina lamenting that if it tasted like it smelled, it would be an awesome bourbon. “I taste scotch,” she says. “Peat. It’s the scotchiest bourbon I’ve ever tasted.”
I kind of agree – it has a smoky sharpness to the flavor, rather than the smooth sweetness of the bourbons I like. The folks at drinkspirits.com are quite high on this bourbon, but I’m not.
Two stars.
The updated rankings:
- Blanton’s Gold Edition
- Smooth Ambler Old Scout 7
- Noah’s Mill
- Bulleit
- Elijah Craig
- Evan Williams
- Four Roses Single Barrel
- FEW
- Booker’s 7 Year
- Evan Williams Single Barrel Vintage 2004
- Jefferson’s
- Four Roses
- Michter’s
- Eagle Rare
- 1792 Ridgemont Reserve
- Roughstock Montana
- Old Forester
- Smooth Ambler Contradiction