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Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond vs Horse Soldier Barrel Strength
Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond 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 Bottled-in-Bond | 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 | 4 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 111 proof (55.5% ABV) +11 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$16 – $22 ~$63 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 Bottled-in-Bond
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Horse Soldier Barrel Strength
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Flavor Profile
Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond Horse Soldier Barrel Strength
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 5/7 heat: Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, Horse Soldier Barrel Strength 7 out of 10
sweetness 6/7 sweetness: Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10, Horse Soldier Barrel Strength 7 out of 10
fruit 4/5 fruit: Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10, Horse Soldier Barrel Strength 5 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10, Horse Soldier Barrel Strength 3 out of 10
spice 5/5 spice: Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, Horse Soldier Barrel Strength 5 out of 10
oak 6/6 oak: Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10, Horse Soldier Barrel Strength 6 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Proof and heat dominate the difference.
- Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond: Arguably the best value in all of bourbon: a bonded 100-proof Kentucky whiskey for under twenty dollars. Straightforward vanilla and caramel with just enough oak, and nothing at all to apologise for.
- 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 Bottled-in-Bond if you want a bonded, honest, full-proof Kentucky bourbon for the price of a cocktail.
- 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 neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond); neat, old-fashioned (Horse Soldier Barrel Strength).