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Evan Williams Black Label vs Horse Soldier Barrel Strength
Evan Williams Black Label and Horse Soldier Barrel Strength sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, classically built classic versus an uncut, wheat-forward heavyweight.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Evan Williams Black Label | Horse Soldier Barrel Strength |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon, Barrel Proof |
| Mash Bill 1 | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley | 70% corn, 20% wheat, 10% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 86 proof (43% ABV) | 111 proof (55.5% ABV) +25 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$14 – $18 ~$66 less | ~$78 – $85 |
- Horse Soldier Barrel Strength does not publish an official mash bill.
- 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.
Horse Soldier Barrel Strength
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Evan Williams Black Label Horse Soldier Barrel Strength
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 3/7 heat: Evan Williams Black Label 3 out of 10, Horse Soldier Barrel Strength 7 out of 10
sweetness 6/7 sweetness: Evan Williams Black Label 6 out of 10, Horse Soldier Barrel Strength 7 out of 10
spice 4/5 spice: Evan Williams Black Label 4 out of 10, Horse Soldier Barrel Strength 5 out of 10
oak 5/6 oak: Evan Williams Black Label 5 out of 10, Horse Soldier Barrel Strength 6 out of 10
fruit 4/5 fruit: Evan Williams Black Label 4 out of 10, Horse Soldier Barrel Strength 5 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Evan Williams Black Label 4 out of 10, Horse Soldier Barrel Strength 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
These two land very differently on the palate for heat.
- 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.
- Horse Soldier Barrel Strength: A barrel-strength wheater from the veteran-founded Horse Soldier brand. Brown sugar and toasted oak lead, baking spice and heat follow, and a splash of water pulls out darker fruit.
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 Horse Soldier Barrel Strength if you want a big, barrel-strength wheated bourbon with plenty of brown sugar and warmth with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
Best enjoyed cocktails, highball, rocks (Evan Williams Black Label); neat, old-fashioned (Horse Soldier Barrel Strength).