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Penelope Toasted Series vs Evan Williams Black Label
Put Penelope Toasted Series next to Evan Williams Black Label and you have a blender-built, high-rye bottling set against a classic, corn-forward stalwart.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Penelope Toasted Series | Evan Williams Black Label |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 75% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) +14 proof | 86 proof (43% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$55 – $70 | ~$14 – $18 ~$47 less |
- US shelf prices as of 2026-10; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Penelope Toasted Series
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Evan Williams Black Label
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Penelope Toasted Series Evan Williams Black Label
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 7/5 oak: Penelope Toasted Series 7 out of 10, Evan Williams Black Label 5 out of 10
heat 5/3 heat: Penelope Toasted Series 5 out of 10, Evan Williams Black Label 3 out of 10
sweetness 7/6 sweetness: Penelope Toasted Series 7 out of 10, Evan Williams Black Label 6 out of 10
spice 5/4 spice: Penelope Toasted Series 5 out of 10, Evan Williams Black Label 4 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: Penelope Toasted Series 3 out of 10, Evan Williams Black Label 4 out of 10
fruit 4/4 fruit: Penelope Toasted Series 4 out of 10, Evan Williams Black Label 4 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Oak is doing most of the differentiating here.
- 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.
- 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 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.
- 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.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Penelope Toasted Series); cocktails, highball, rocks (Evan Williams Black Label).