Evan Williams bourbon in Westford, MA

Evan Williams is a Kentucky straight bourbon made by Heaven Hill, and CBC Liquors in Westford carries four bottlings of it: Black Label, Bottled in Bond, 1783 Small Batch and Single Barrel. This guide explains what separates them so you can pick the right one for sipping, mixing or gifting.

What is Evan Williams bourbon?

Evan Williams is a straight bourbon whiskey made in Kentucky by Heaven Hill, and it is one of the best-known names on the bourbon shelf. The brand's date, 1783, is printed on the label and gives one of its bottlings its name. You can see everything we carry from the maker on our Evan Williams brand page.

Straight bourbon has rules behind it. By law it is made in the United States from a grain mix that is at least 51 percent corn, aged in new charred oak containers, and bottled with no added colouring or flavouring. Straight bourbon is aged at least two years, and any bottle carrying an age statement must show the youngest whiskey in it.

That structure is why bourbon tastes the way it does: vanilla, caramel and toasted oak from the charred barrels, with sweetness from the corn. Evan Williams sits squarely in that profile, which makes it a good bottle to learn the style on and a dependable one to keep at home.

Which Evan Williams bottles does CBC Liquors carry?

We carry four. Evan Williams Black Label Bourbon is the everyday bottle and the one most people mean when they search for the name. Evan Williams Bottled In Bond is the stronger, more tightly defined step up.

Evan Williams 1783 Small Batch sits between those two in character and is made from a selection of barrels rather than a single one. Evan Williams Single Barrel is the one to look at when you want a bottle that comes from one cask only.

If you are choosing among them in the shop, ask at the counter. We are at 142 Littleton Rd in Westford, and you can compare the labels side by side.

What is the difference between Black Label, 1783 and Bottled in Bond?

Black Label and 1783 Small Batch are both multi-barrel bottlings, meaning each bottle is made from whiskey drawn from more than one barrel and combined to a house taste. Both are bottled at 86 proof, which is 43 percent alcohol by volume. Black Label is the easy-going, general-purpose bottle. 1783 Small Batch is selected from fewer barrels and is generally the one people choose when they want to sip rather than mix.

Bottled in Bond is a different kind of label. Under the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897, a whiskey carrying that statement must be the product of one distillery in one distilling season, aged at least four years in a bonded warehouse, and bottled at exactly 100 proof. That extra strength carries more oak and spice, and it holds up well in a cocktail where a softer bourbon would disappear.

So the short version is: Black Label for everyday pours and mixing, 1783 Small Batch for a smoother neat pour, Bottled in Bond when you want weight and punch.

What does Single Barrel mean?

A single barrel bottling comes from one cask, not from a combination of many. Because every barrel ages a little differently, each one has its own personality, and two single barrel bottles can taste slightly different from each other.

That is the appeal. Instead of a bottle built to taste identical year after year, you are tasting what one barrel did over its years in the warehouse. Evan Williams Single Barrel is dated by vintage on the label, which tells you the year the whiskey was barreled.

If you already know Black Label well, the Single Barrel is the natural bottle to try next, and it also works as a considered gift for someone who drinks bourbon.

How should you drink Evan Williams?

Neat or with a single large ice cube is the simplest way to taste what a bourbon is doing, and 1783 Small Batch and Single Barrel reward that. Add a few drops of water and the vanilla and oak tend to open up.

For cocktails, Black Label and Bottled in Bond are the practical choices. An old fashioned needs only bourbon, sugar, bitters and an orange peel, and Bottled in Bond keeps its backbone through the dilution. A whiskey sour or a Manhattan, which swaps in sweet vermouth, are other classics that suit bourbon.

For a long, easy drink, build a highball over ice. Our mixers section has what you need for a highball, so you can pick up the bourbon and the other half of the glass in one trip. As ever, drink in moderation and never drive afterwards.

What should you try if you like Evan Williams?

If Black Label suits you, the rest of our bourbon range is the obvious next step, and it is worth tasting across different mash bills to see what you prefer. A higher-rye bourbon is spicier, while a wheated one is softer and rounder.

If you want to see where bourbon sits in the wider family, our whiskey section covers it alongside other styles. Rye is the closest cousin, with the same new charred oak but a peppery edge that works particularly well in a Manhattan.

Talk to us if you want a suggestion. Tell us what you like in Evan Williams and we can point you toward something similar on the shelf.

How do you buy Evan Williams from CBC Liquors in Westford?

You can walk in at 142 Littleton Rd, Westford, MA 01886. We are open Sunday 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Monday to Thursday 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM, and Friday and Saturday 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM. Pickup runs the same hours as the shop.

We also offer delivery and shipping. Delivery hours are Sunday 10:00 AM to 7:30 PM, Monday to Thursday 10:00 AM to 8:30 PM, and Friday and Saturday 10:00 AM to 9:30 PM. Our delivery areas page lists the towns we serve, including Chelmsford, Acton and Lowell.

You need to be 21 or older and show valid ID to buy alcohol, whether you collect it or take delivery. Our Google rating is 4.7 out of 5 from 339 reviews, if you want to see what other customers say about the shop.