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Evan Williams Black Label vs Four Roses Single Barrel
Evan Williams Black Label and Four Roses Single Barrel 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 Single Barrel |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley | 60% corn, 35% rye, 5% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 86 proof (43% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +14 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$14 – $18 ~$34 less | ~$45 – $55 |
- 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 Single Barrel
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Evan Williams Black Label Four Roses Single Barrel
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 4/8 spice: Evan Williams Black Label 4 out of 10, Four Roses Single Barrel 8 out of 10
fruit 4/7 fruit: Evan Williams Black Label 4 out of 10, Four Roses Single Barrel 7 out of 10
heat 3/6 heat: Evan Williams Black Label 3 out of 10, Four Roses Single Barrel 6 out of 10
oak 5/6 oak: Evan Williams Black Label 5 out of 10, Four Roses Single Barrel 6 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Evan Williams Black Label 4 out of 10, Four Roses Single Barrel 3 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Evan Williams Black Label 6 out of 10, Four Roses Single Barrel 6 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Rye spice is the dividing line 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 Single Barrel: The OBSV recipe on its own at 100 proof — the highest-rye mash Four Roses uses, paired with their most floral yeast. Cherry and clove in equal measure, and a genuinely distinctive glass.
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 significantly lower price point.
- Go with Four Roses Single Barrel if you want the most expressive, spice-and-fruit-forward single recipe in the Four Roses range with more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed cocktails, highball, rocks (Evan Williams Black Label); neat, old-fashioned (Four Roses Single Barrel).