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Evan Williams Black Label vs Old Grand-Dad 114
Evan Williams Black Label and Old Grand-Dad 114 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 | Old Grand-Dad 114 |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley | 63% corn, 27% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 86 proof (43% ABV) | 114 proof (57% ABV) +28 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$14 – $18 ~$16 less | ~$28 – $35 |
- Old Grand-Dad 114 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.
Old Grand-Dad 114
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Evan Williams Black Label Old Grand-Dad 114
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 4/9 spice: Evan Williams Black Label 4 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad 114 9 out of 10
heat 3/8 heat: Evan Williams Black Label 3 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad 114 8 out of 10
oak 5/6 oak: Evan Williams Black Label 5 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad 114 6 out of 10
nuttiness 4/5 nuttiness: Evan Williams Black Label 4 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad 114 5 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Evan Williams Black Label 6 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad 114 6 out of 10
fruit 4/4 fruit: Evan Williams Black Label 4 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad 114 4 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.
- Old Grand-Dad 114: The best proof-per-dollar in American whiskey and it is not especially close. The 27% rye mash at 114 proof is loud, peppery and completely unsubtle, which is exactly why it makes such a good old-fashioned.
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 lower price point.
- Go with Old Grand-Dad 114 if you want maximum rye spice and proof for under thirty dollars.
Best enjoyed cocktails, highball, rocks (Evan Williams Black Label); neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (Old Grand-Dad 114).