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Evan Williams Black Label vs Penelope Toasted Series
Put Evan Williams Black Label next to Penelope Toasted Series and you have a classic, corn-forward stalwart set against a sourced, high-rye blend.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Evan Williams Black Label | Penelope Toasted Series |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley | 75% corn, 21% rye, 4% 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 ~$47 less | ~$55 – $70 |
- 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.
Penelope Toasted Series
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Evan Williams Black Label Penelope Toasted Series
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 5/7 oak: Evan Williams Black Label 5 out of 10, Penelope Toasted Series 7 out of 10
heat 3/5 heat: Evan Williams Black Label 3 out of 10, Penelope Toasted Series 5 out of 10
sweetness 6/7 sweetness: Evan Williams Black Label 6 out of 10, Penelope Toasted Series 7 out of 10
spice 4/5 spice: Evan Williams Black Label 4 out of 10, Penelope Toasted Series 5 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Evan Williams Black Label 4 out of 10, Penelope Toasted Series 3 out of 10
fruit 4/4 fruit: Evan Williams Black Label 4 out of 10, Penelope Toasted Series 4 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.
- Penelope Toasted Series: Finished in a second, freshly toasted barrel, which pushes it toward toffee, roasted coffee and darker oak. The toast level changes from batch to batch.
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 Penelope Toasted Series if you want a toasty, coffee-and-toffee bourbon from a second-barrel finish with more proof behind it and with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
Best enjoyed cocktails, highball, rocks (Evan Williams Black Label); neat, old-fashioned (Penelope Toasted Series).