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Evan Williams Black Label vs Four Roses Bourbon
Evan Williams Black Label and Four Roses Bourbon sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, classically built classic versus an old-guard, rye-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Evan Williams Black Label | Four Roses Bourbon |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley | 75% corn, 20% rye, 5% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 86 proof (43% ABV) +6 proof | 80 proof (40% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$14 – $18 ~$9 less | ~$22 – $28 |
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Evan Williams Black Label
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Four Roses Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Evan Williams Black Label Four Roses Bourbon
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 5/3 oak: Evan Williams Black Label 5 out of 10, Four Roses Bourbon 3 out of 10
fruit 4/6 fruit: Evan Williams Black Label 4 out of 10, Four Roses Bourbon 6 out of 10
spice 4/5 spice: Evan Williams Black Label 4 out of 10, Four Roses Bourbon 5 out of 10
heat 3/2 heat: Evan Williams Black Label 3 out of 10, Four Roses Bourbon 2 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Evan Williams Black Label 4 out of 10, Four Roses Bourbon 3 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Evan Williams Black Label 6 out of 10, Four Roses Bourbon 6 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Oak is doing most of the differentiating here.
- Evan Williams Black Label: The everyday black label, and a perfectly competent well bourbon. Softer and sweeter than the bonded version, with less to say but nothing objectionable.
- Four Roses Bourbon: The yellow label entry point, blending all ten Four Roses recipes at a gentle 80 proof. Light and fruity to a fault, but the house floral character is already recognisable and it mixes beautifully.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Evan Williams Black Label if you want a dependable, inexpensive mixing bourbon and nothing more complicated than that at a slightly lower price point.
- Go with Four Roses Bourbon if you want the Four Roses fruit-and-floral signature at its lightest and cheapest.
Best enjoyed cocktails, highball, rocks (Evan Williams Black Label); cocktails, highball, rocks (Four Roses Bourbon).