Evan Williams vs Old Forester:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Evan Williams had more branded searches than Old Forester among bourbon brands worldwide. Evan Williams had about 49,500 branded searches, while Old Forester had 27,100. Evan Williams made up 3.7% of all bourbon brand searches we track, and Old Forester accounted for 2%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about bourbon brands, Old Forester appeared in two of the five answers and Evan Williams in one. Evan Williams and Old Forester were each mentioned first in one of the two answers that named either.
Who do people search for more?
Evan Williams, about 83% more searches than Old Forester
Who does AI mention more?
Old Forester, mentioned in 2 of 5 answers, Evan Williams in 1
Who does AI recommend more?
Each is named first in 1 of 2 answers.
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Top bourbon brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Old Forester was mentioned in two out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Evan Williams was mentioned in one out of five: not in any of the three ChatGPT answers, but in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Evan Williams and Old Forester were each listed first in one of the two answers that named either.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Wild Turkey1st
Four Roses2nd
Buffalo Trace3rd
Maker's Mark4th
Woodford Reserve5th
Elijah Craig6th
Jim Beam7th- Evan Williams8th
- Old Forester9th
Knob Creek10th- +5 more
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Four Roses5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Buffalo Trace4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Maker's Mark4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Woodford Reserve4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Elijah Craig4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Wild Turkey4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Blanton's2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers- Knob Creek2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Old Forester2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Evan Williams1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about bourbon brands
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which bourbon should I buy?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best bourbon brands?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's a good bourbon for a beginner?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“bourbon brands”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“bourbon whiskey”
Not named in any answer:
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 25, 2026.
Is Evan Williams or Old Forester more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Evan Williams and Old Forester by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 15 bourbon brands we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for Evan Williams, Old Forester. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Jim Beam | Buffalo Trace | Maker's Mark | Woodford Reserve | Blanton's | Bulleit | Eagle Rare | Elijah Craig | Wild Turkey | Evan Williams | Basil Hayden | Four Roses | Knob Creek | Old Forester | Angel's Envy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 20.5% | 11.2% | 13.7% | 11.2% | 7.5% | 6.2% | 6.2% | 4.1% | 4.6% | 4.1% | 3.4% | 2.8% | 2.3% | 1.8% | 0.37% |
| Nov 2025 | 18.8% | 12.5% | 12.5% | 10.3% | 6.9% | 6.9% | 6.9% | 3.8% | 5.1% | 4.6% | 3.8% | 3.1% | 2.5% | 2.1% | 0.34% |
| Dec 2025 | 26.7% | 9.8% | 12% | 9.8% | 6.6% | 6.6% | 8% | 3.6% | 4% | 2.9% | 3.6% | 2.9% | 2% | 1.3% | 0.32% |
| Jan 2026 | 20.5% | 11.2% | 13.7% | 11.2% | 7.5% | 6.2% | 6.2% | 4.1% | 4.6% | 4.1% | 3.4% | 2.8% | 2.3% | 1.8% | 0.37% |
| Feb 2026 | 28% | 10.3% | 12.6% | 10.3% | 5.6% | 5.6% | 5.6% | 3.8% | 4.2% | 3.8% | 3.1% | 3.1% | 2.1% | 1.7% | 0.33% |
| Mar 2026 | 19.6% | 10.7% | 13.1% | 10.7% | 8.8% | 5.9% | 5.9% | 4.8% | 5% | 4.8% | 3.2% | 2.6% | 2.6% | 1.8% | 0.35% |
| Apr 2026 | 20.1% | 11% | 13.5% | 11% | 7.4% | 6% | 6% | 4% | 5.1% | 4.9% | 3.3% | 2.7% | 2.7% | 1.8% | 0.36% |
| May 2026 | 17.7% | 9.7% | 11.9% | 11.9% | 6.5% | 6.5% | 5.3% | 11.9% | 4.9% | 3.6% | 2.9% | 2.9% | 2.4% | 1.6% | 0.32% |
| Jun 2026 | 19.5% | 10.7% | 13.1% | 10.7% | 7.2% | 7.2% | 5.9% | 5.9% | 4.8% | 3.2% | 3.2% | 3.9% | 2.6% | 1.8% | 0.35% |
| Jul 2026 | 20.5% | 11.2% | 13.7% | 11.2% | 7.5% | 6.2% | 6.2% | 4.1% | 4.6% | 3.4% | 2.8% | 4.1% | 2.3% | 1.8% | 0.37% |
| Aug 2026 | 22.9% | 10.3% | 15.3% | 10.3% | 6.9% | 5.6% | 5.6% | 4.6% | 4.8% | 3.1% | 3.1% | 3.1% | 2.1% | 1.7% | 0.92% |
| Sep 2026 | 22.3% | 12.2% | 12.2% | 10% | 6.7% | 5.5% | 5.5% | 5.5% | 4.7% | 3.7% | 3% | 3% | 2% | 2% | 1.6% |
How has the Evan Williams and Old Forester comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Evan Williams was ahead of Old Forester in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Evan Williams’ share of searches among bourbon brands worldwide moved from 4.1% to 3.7%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 60.5K to 49.5K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Old Forester’s share of searches among bourbon brands worldwide moved from 1.8% to 2%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 27.1K.
How did search popularity change for bourbon brands worldwide in September 2026?
1 change
In September 2026, Evan Williams overtook Basil Hayden to rank 10th among bourbon brands worldwide, with 3.7% of the searches.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Evan Williams’ and Old Forester’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Evan Williams
1 branded search term
- evan williams
Old Forester
1 branded search term
- old forester
Other head-to-heads among bourbon brands
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