Compare
Four Roses Bourbon vs Evan Williams Black Label
Four Roses Bourbon and Evan Williams Black Label sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, rye-forward classic versus an old-guard, classically built classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Four Roses Bourbon | Evan Williams Black Label |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 75% corn, 20% rye, 5% malted barley | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 80 proof (40% ABV) | 86 proof (43% ABV) +6 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$22 – $28 | ~$14 – $18 ~$9 less |
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Four Roses Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Evan Williams Black Label
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Four Roses Bourbon Evan Williams Black Label
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 3/5 oak: Four Roses Bourbon 3 out of 10, Evan Williams Black Label 5 out of 10
fruit 6/4 fruit: Four Roses Bourbon 6 out of 10, Evan Williams Black Label 4 out of 10
spice 5/4 spice: Four Roses Bourbon 5 out of 10, Evan Williams Black Label 4 out of 10
heat 2/3 heat: Four Roses Bourbon 2 out of 10, Evan Williams Black Label 3 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: Four Roses Bourbon 3 out of 10, Evan Williams Black Label 4 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Four Roses Bourbon 6 out of 10, Evan Williams Black Label 6 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Oak is doing most of the differentiating here.
- Four Roses Bourbon: The yellow label entry point, blending all ten Four Roses recipes at a gentle 80 proof. Light and fruity to a fault, but the house floral character is already recognisable and it mixes beautifully.
- 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.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Four Roses Bourbon if you want the Four Roses fruit-and-floral signature at its lightest and cheapest.
- Go with Evan Williams Black Label if you want a dependable, inexpensive mixing bourbon and nothing more complicated than that at a slightly lower price point.
Best enjoyed cocktails, highball, rocks (Four Roses Bourbon); cocktails, highball, rocks (Evan Williams Black Label).