Evan Williams is one of those names that gets tossed around so casually in bourbon circles that it's easy to overlook what's actually in the glass. The 1783 expression — named for the year Evan Williams supposedly began distilling in Kentucky — sits in that interesting middle ground between everyday sipper and something you'd actually want to pay attention to. At 43% ABV, it's got just enough backbone to hold its own without being a bruiser, and at £52.25 it's priced right for what it delivers.
Now, let's talk about what we know. This is a Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, which means it meets every requirement under American whiskey law: at least 51% corn in the mashbill, distilled to no more than 160 proof, entered the barrel at no higher than 125 proof, and aged in new charred oak for a minimum of two years. That "straight" designation matters — it's not just marketing. It tells you there's a baseline of quality and transparency baked into the production. No added flavouring, no colouring, just grain, water, yeast, and time in wood.
The 1783 is a NAS (no age statement) bottling, which in the bourbon world isn't necessarily a red flag. Many of the best-selling bourbons in America carry no age statement, and distillers often use this flexibility to blend barrels of different ages for a more consistent, well-rounded profile. What you're getting here is a bourbon designed to be approachable but not boring — something with enough oak influence and corn sweetness to satisfy, bottled at a strength that lets the flavour come through without needing water.
Tasting Notes
I'd encourage you to come to this one with an open mind and discover what your own palate picks up. Bourbon at 43% tends to show its corn-driven sweetness clearly, and with that new charred oak influence you can generally expect warmth, vanilla, and a toasted quality that's characteristic of the style. Pour it, give it a minute, and let it open up — there's no rush.
The Verdict
At its price point, Evan Williams 1783 does exactly what a solid mid-range bourbon should do: it delivers a clean, satisfying pour that works whether you're drinking it neat after dinner or building cocktails on a Friday night. It's not trying to be a trophy bottle and it doesn't need to be. This is honest bourbon, well-made, bottled at a sensible strength, and carrying the weight of Kentucky's straight bourbon standards behind it. I'm giving it a 7.5 out of 10 — it earns that score by being reliably good without pretending to be something it isn't. There are flashier bottles on the shelf, but there are far more that wish they were this consistent.
Best Served
This is a natural Old Fashioned bourbon. Two ounces of the 1783, a barspoon of rich demerara syrup, two dashes of Angostura bitters, stirred over a large ice cube with an expressed orange peel. The 43% ABV holds up perfectly with dilution from the ice, and the bourbon's corn sweetness plays beautifully against the bitters. If you want it neat, a single cube or a few drops of water will open it up nicely — but honestly, this bottle was built for cocktail duty, and it shines there.
