Evan Williams Fire

Evan Williams Fire is listed here as a bourbon-category whiskey from the Evan Williams brand. The name points to the cinnamon-forward style of flavored bourbon, where a bourbon base is paired with a hot, spicy cinnamon note. The listing doesn't give a proof, age or flavor description, so check the label for those. Expect a sweeter, more candy-like profile than a straight bourbon. Cinnamon spice should sit on top of the usual corn sweetness, vanilla and light oak, and any heat is likely to show more on the finish than on the nose. Because the spice is the point, serve it cold or with minimal dilution. Straight from the freezer or chilled over a single large ice cube, it should taste smoother and less sharp. Neat at room temperature, the cinnamon tends to dominate. A few drops of water can open up the bourbon underneath, but the flavored character may fade as you add more. A small rocks glass suits the chilled pour, and a Glencairn is only worth using if you want to compare the aroma with a standard bourbon. In mixed drinks, treat it as a flavoring as well as a base. A Fire and cola highball over ice with a lime wedge is the simplest pairing, since cola's caramel and vanilla suit cinnamon. Ginger ale or ginger beer works the same way and adds a dry edge. For a stirred drink, an Old Fashioned made with less sugar than usual, since the whiskey is likely already sweet, plus a dash of orange or aromatic bitters and an orange peel, keeps the cinnamon in check. A Whiskey Sour with extra lemon juice also helps balance sweetness. A Manhattan is less natural here, because sweet vermouth stacked on a sweetened whiskey can turn cloying. If you try one, use a drier vermouth. For food, expect it to pair with desserts such as apple pie, bread pudding or dark chocolate, and with smoked or barbecued pork, where the spice plays off the char.