🥃 Evan Williams 1783 Small Batch
Small-batch expression of Evan Williams: a Kentucky straight bourbon from batches of fewer than 200 barrels; 90 proof (45% ABV).
Evan Williams 1783 Small Batch is an expression of the Evan Williams brand that is bottled in small batches. According to the producer, each batch is assembled from fewer than 200 barrels. It is bottled at 90 proof, or 45% ABV; the name recalls 1783, the year the brand ties its history to.
The mash bill is the same as the brand's other bourbons: 78% corn, 10% rye and 12% malted barley (per Difford's Guide). There is no age statement; according to Breaking Bourbon, the company gives six to eight years. In May 2021 Heaven Hill updated the bottle and returned the strength from 86 to the original 90 proof.
Why it matters to you. 1783 Small Batch sits between Black Label (43% ABV) and Bottled-in-Bond (50% ABV). If you see an older bottle at 86 proof, it is an earlier version released before 2021. The WHO reminds us that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.
Facts
| Alcohol (% vol.) | 45% ABV (90 proof) since 2021; previously 86 proof |
|---|---|
| Minimum maturation | no age statement; according to Breaking Bourbon, the company states 6–8 years |
| Raw material | corn 78%, rye 10%, malted barley 12% (per Difford's Guide) |
| Cask type | new charred oak barrels (a bourbon requirement) |
| EU category | 2 — whisky/whiskey |
| Legal basis | 27 CFR § 5.143 (US): bourbon whisky; straight — at least 2 years |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Evan Williams 1783 Small Batch → kind of → 🥃 Whisky → kind of → 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Packed in
- 🍷 Oak barrel
- Made from
- 🥃 Rye and corn in whisky, 🥃 Barley and malt in whisky
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Part of
- 🥃 Evan Williams, 🥃 Bourbon whiskey, 🥃 Whisky
- Similar and different
- 🥃 Elijah Craig Small Batch, 🥃 Evan Williams Black Label, 🥃 Evan Williams Black Label, 🥃 Evan Williams Single Barrel Vintage, 🥃 Evan Williams Single Barrel Vintage
Frequently asked questions
Is it true that 1783 is the year the bourbon was aged?
No. It is the year the brand links to its legend about Evan Williams; the bottle has no age statement.
What is the strength of 1783 Small Batch?
Since May 2021 it has been 90 proof (45% ABV); for a time before that it was bottled at 86 proof.
How many barrels are in a batch?
According to the official description, fewer than 200 barrels.
What to read next
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🍷 Oak barrel — A wooden barrel of oak staves in which wine matures and breathes.
- 🥃 Barley and malt in whisky — Malted barley is the base of whisky: malt enzymes convert starch in the mash, and EU whisky is distilled below 94.8% vol.
- 🥃 Elijah Craig Small Batch — The core version of Elijah Craig: a Kentucky straight bourbon from barrels aged 8–12 years, 47% ABV (94 proof); on the market since 1986.
- 🍷 Drunk driving — Never drive after drinking wine: alcohol slows your reactions.
Similar
🥃 Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond · 🥃 Evan Williams Black Label · 🥃 Evan Williams Single Barrel Vintage · 🥃 Crow 86 · 🥃 Maker's Mark Classic · 🥃 Woodford Reserve Malt
⚠️ Spirit drinks contain alcohol and are for adults only. Alcohol harms health. Do not drink during pregnancy or before driving; check the label for ingredients and possible allergens.
Sources
- Evan Williams (official): 1783 Small Batch (90 proof; extra-aged; fewer than 200 barrels; sour mash)
- Heaven Hill Distillery: Evan Williams 1783 Small Batch (90 proof; small batch of fewer than 200 barrels)
- Difford's Guide: Evan Williams 1783 Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon (45 % ABV, no age statement, mash 78/10/12, batches under 200 barrels)
- Breaking Bourbon: Evan Williams 1783 Small Batch review (30.07.2021; relaunched May 2021; proof raised from 86 back to 90; NAS, company states 6–8 years)
- 27 CFR § 5.143 Standards of identity for whisky (bourbon: mash min. 51 % corn, charred new oak; straight: min. 2 years), text via Cornell LII
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)