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Evan Williams Black Label vs Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon
Evan Williams Black Label and Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, classically built classic versus a new-wave, wheat-forward craft style.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Evan Williams Black Label | Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley | 75% corn, 15% wheat, 10% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 4 years |
| Proof | 86 proof (43% ABV) | 87 proof (43.5% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$14 – $18 ~$27 less | ~$40 – $45 |
- 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.
Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon
Didn't care for this one.
Flavor Profile
Evan Williams Black Label Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 4/2 spice: Evan Williams Black Label 4 out of 10, Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon 2 out of 10
oak 5/4 oak: Evan Williams Black Label 5 out of 10, Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon 4 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Evan Williams Black Label 4 out of 10, Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon 3 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Evan Williams Black Label 6 out of 10, Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon 6 out of 10
fruit 4/4 fruit: Evan Williams Black Label 4 out of 10, Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon 4 out of 10
heat 3/3 heat: Evan Williams Black Label 3 out of 10, Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The gap between these two is mostly about spice.
- 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.
- Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon: A farm-to-bottle wheater from northern Illinois. Soft red winter wheat keeps it gentle and bready, with caramel and vanilla up front and very little bite at 87 proof.
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 Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon if you want a soft, easygoing wheated bourbon made start to finish on one Midwest farm.
Best enjoyed cocktails, highball, rocks (Evan Williams Black Label); rocks, highball, cocktails (Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon).