Evan Williams in the Wilderness

[cowdery]

On Thursday, November 7, 1996, the worst distillery fire in living memory occurred. The distillery was Heaven Hill in Bardstown, Kentucky. Rivers of burning bourbon flowed like molten lava over the broad hillside and heat from the flames could be felt a half-mile away. Exploding barrels flew like shooting stars across the night sky.

The distillery, three grain trucks with their loads, seven warehouses and 7.7 million gallons of aging bourbon were destroyed.

The distillery was never rebuilt. Heaven Hill resumed production in 1997 at Jim Beam. The 1998 production was made at Brown-Forman. In 1999, Heaven Hill acquired the Bernheim Distillery. Most production was shifted there but, due to insufficient capacity, they continued to produce whiskey at Brown-Forman too.

Just one year before the fire, Heaven Hill had launched the Evan Williams Single Barrel Vintage series. Each annual release comes from a particular year of production and the whiskey is always nine years old. Therefore, the 1996 edition, released in 2005, was the last one from Bardstown. The 1997, released in 2006, was whiskey made at Jim Beam (to Heaven Hill's specifications). The 1998 and 1999, released in 2007 and 2008, respectively, were from Brown-Forman. The 2000, the first from Bernheim, was released last fall.

I don't have any 1996 handy, so I'm tasting 1994 to represent Bardstown. (I like the 1994 better anyway.) I have 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2000. I've done some of it but I'm not ready to post my results. If you have that set, or something close to it, why don't you join me?

This is a rare opportunity to taste the same whiskey made at four different distilleries. Who's in?

[Pieface]

Sounds like a fun idea Chuck.

I had some of the '98 last night and I would say it was superior to the '97. But that is the limit of my EWSB experience.

Very enjoyable whiskey. I hope plenty of members chime in on this one

[Josh]

Count me in Colonel. I don't have a complete set, but I do have an 89, 94, 97, 98 & I have been meaning to pick up another 99 and 00. And I agree about the 96. Probably the only one I've had that I haven't liked.

[RWBadley]

Quick- let me know how the 2000 is. We just got some in from two different barrels.(something like barrel #84 and #104 or something) Priced at $30. Worth it? Or just go with the Lot b (at $45)while it's here? Thnx- RW

[CaptainQ]

Quick- let me know how the 2000 is. We just got some in from two different barrels.(something like barrel #84 and #104 or something) Priced at $30. Worth it? Or just go with the Lot b (at $45)while it's here? Thnx- RW

Yes, it's worth it. I like the 2000 very much. I just picked up a bottle of the '99 and haven't tried it yet. Lot B for $45=no brainer: get both!!:grin:

[furious]

Sounds like a fun idea Chuck.

I had some of the '98 last night and I would say it was superior to the '97. But that is the limit of my EWSB experience.

Very enjoyable whiskey. I hope plenty of members chime in on this one

IMHO, the '98 is the best of the recent lot going back to the fire. I have enjoyed every bottle from that year immensely. I should state that EWSB is a personal favorite and I have sampled every year except '86.

[SBOmarc]

Wow, I drank all of mine...<sniff>

[camduncan]

An awesome post Chuck! I never thought to look at my Evan Williams bottles in that way :grin:

I've got two bottles each of the 93, 94, 95, 96 & 97. Am yet to pick up any from 98 on (I think 98 is still the current bottle on shelves in Australia)

The Brisbane based sb.com group were going to meet at my place earlier this month to do a comparison of the above bottles, but our plans fell through. Maybe this thread will prompt us to make it happen sooner rather than later :cool:

[The Boozer]

Have gone thru a bottle of both the the 98' and 99' and thought they were each kind of dull. Picked up the 2000, havn't tried yet.

Tim

[OscarV]

Have gone thru a bottle of both the the 98' and 99' and thought they were each kind of dull. Picked up the 2000, havn't tried yet.

Tim

Yeah Tim, I've yet to be moved by EWSB.

Don't get your hopes up on the 2000, it's just ok.

Parker shows his true talents on the Parker's Heritage Collection and Elijah Craig.

I do however have a bottle of EWSB that was barreled on May 28, 1996, it is the closest date to the fire that I have found so far.

[The Boozer]

O, picked up an EC12 yr when I bought the 2000. Going to do a little side by side. Do love the EC12 alot. Hopefully, it should be fun to see the different profiles side x side.

Tim

[p_elliott]

Nice post Chuck I don't have any presently but from memory out of 97, 98 and 99 I liked the 97 the best. I am looking forward to trying the 2000.

[gblick]

There's some '93 about, is that a good year?

I'll put it on the list for the May gathering.

[independant]

If you have that set, or something close to it, why don't you join me?

This is a rare opportunity to taste the same whiskey made at four different distilleries. Who's in?

Good call Chuck. I have been looking high and low to try to complete a set and the best I has able to do was go back as far as 90. I have given up trying to get all the years so when I saw this post I thought it was the perfect time to crack some of these open. I used:

96 Barrel #678

97 barrel #200

98 Barrel #525

99 Barrel #827

00 Barrel #16

I had my wife pour each into a glencairn while I was out of the room and I did a blind side by side. I will get into these more closely later but for now I wanted to know what I liked better without knowing the year or place it was made.

My findings really surprised me.

5th place 00 made at Berheim

4th place 96 made at HH

3rd place 99 made at BF

2nd place 98 made at BF

1st place 96 made at Beam

I can't believe that I liked everything not made by HH better.

[p_elliott]

Dan in your final rankings you have two 96 and no 97, I'm pretty sure you meant 97 as your #1 choice but you might post a correction.

[independant]

Good eye. My #1 should have been the 97 from Beam

[velvetsteele]

Oscar, what do you have against the 2000 EWSB? you seem to have an opinion that differs from most.

[bonneamie]

At Last!! I've been looking forward to trying this tasting as Chuck proposed and it looks this this coming Saturday will be the day. Finally!! Stay tuned for results!

[wku88]

95 hands down the best.

[bonneamie]

This was a TWO night tasting affair.

As promised, the tasting notes, but first, the line up:

1989: very astringent nose at first, woody, brown butter

1994: not as astringnet, not woody, smokey char

1997: hot, more full-bodied, richer

1998: spicy, not hot, cinnamon candy

1999: similar to 1998, minty

2000: smooth, rich, cinnamony, licorice

The first night we only pitted the 89 against the 00. And the 89 was preferred, but the second night, tasting chronologically oldest to youngest, there was no clear favorite. Participants: Me, Josh, my son, my sister, and my brother-in-law.

[bonneamie]

That picture was supposed to be higher in the post. But anyway, here are some more photos to give you an idea of the terroire for the tasting.

Up North Michigan.

[Josh]

That picture was supposed to be higher in the post. But anyway, here are some more photos to give you an idea of the terroire for the tasting.

Up North Michigan.

Should I expect a call?:slappin:

[bonneamie]

sorry, photos did not attach.

[bonneamie]

Ha! got it!! without a phone call.

[CorvallisCracker]

1994: not as astringnet, not woody, smokey char

I like the bunny rabbit stopper in the 1994. Where'd you get it?