🥃 Evan Williams Black Label
Flagship expression of Evan Williams: a Kentucky straight bourbon with no age statement; 86 proof (43% ABV) in the US.
Evan Williams Black Label is the flagship and most widely sold expression of the Evan Williams brand. It is a Kentucky straight bourbon made by Heaven Hill and bottled at 86 proof in the United States, which means 43% ABV. The official website only states that it is aged much longer than the law requires.
According to Difford's Guide, the mash bill is 78% corn, 10% rye and 12% malted barley, and the spirit matures in new charred oak barrels. The seven-year age statement has been dropped from the label; according to the available data, the whiskey is now about five to six years old. Difford's Guide also reports that since 2025, 700 ml bottles have been bottled at 40% ABV.
Why it matters to you. Black Label is the reference point of the range: Bottled-in-Bond is stronger (50% ABV), 1783 Small Batch is 45% ABV, and Single Barrel Vintage comes from a single barrel. Check the strength on the label, because it depends on the market. The WHO reminds us that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.
Facts
| Alcohol (% vol.) | 43% ABV (86 proof) in the US; 40% ABV in 700 ml bottles since 2025 (per Difford's Guide) |
|---|---|
| Minimum maturation | no age statement; according to the available data, about 5–6 years (straight: at least 2 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 Black Label → 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
- 🥃 Evan Williams 1783 Small Batch, 🥃 Evan Williams 1783 Small Batch, 🥃 Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond, 🥃 Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond
Frequently asked questions
Is it true that Black Label has seven years of aging?
It used to say seven years on the label, but the age statement was removed. According to the available data, it is now about five to six years.
What is the strength of Evan Williams Black Label?
86 proof (43% ABV) in the US. According to Difford's Guide, since 2025 the 700 ml bottles have been 40% ABV.
How does it differ from Bottled-in-Bond?
The mash bill is the same, but Bottled-in-Bond is bottled at 50% ABV from one distillery and one distilling season, and it is aged at least four years.
What to read next
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🥃 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.
- 🥃 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).
- 🍷 Drunk driving — Never drive after drinking wine: alcohol slows your reactions.
- 🥃 Rye and corn in whisky — Grain in the name of American whiskey: bourbon is at least 51% corn, rye at least 51% rye, corn whiskey at least 80% corn.
Similar
🥃 Evan Williams Single Barrel Vintage · 🥃 Evan Williams 1783 Small Batch · 🥃 Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond · 🥃 Crow 86 · 🥃 Woodford Reserve Malt · 🥃 Old Crow Bourbon
⚠️ 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): Evan Williams Bourbon, Black Label (Kentucky Straight Bourbon, 86 proof, 43 % ABV; 'aged far longer than required by law')
- Heaven Hill Distillery: Evan Williams Bourbon (Black label; 86 proof; named after Evan Williams, 1783, Louisville)
- Difford's Guide: Evan Williams Extra Aged (Black Label) Kentucky Straight Bourbon (40 % ABV from 2025, previously 43 %; former 7-year statement removed, now c. 5–6 years; mash 78/10/12)
- Heaven Hill: new proprietary bottle and updated packaging for the Evan Williams bourbon family (12.06.2013; Black Label flagship, White Label Bottled-in-Bond; 1783 Small Batch and Single Barrel Vintage)
- 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)