Willet 5 yr bourbon/116 proof

[weller_tex]

At a family event this weekend a relative was kind enough to share some Willett 5 year bourbon..116 proof. Amazingly smooth for 5 year and that proof. And the most amazing thing...it tasted like liquid peanut butter. I love PB so that is a good thing. Obviously heavy rye recipe, but with a sweetness that results in this peanut butter thing. Anyone else tasted this in the younger Willett Bourbons?

[Bmac]

I bought a bottle of the Willett 7yr (off hand I think it was 114 proof). It tasted like very strong Wild Turkey and had a rubbing alcohol aftertaste. Very bitter. However, the addition of water brought out a creamy flavor note. Also aeration also has improved the flavor.

I am thinking of going back and getting the 6 and maybe the 5 yr.

[White Dog]

All these Willett Bourbon bottlings are single barrel releases, so they'll vary widely.

[cbus]

Was at TPS today, and it looked like they just recently got a whole bunch of Willett single barrel selections in stock. If anyone has had opportunity to try any of the new ones, I'm interested in what you have to say about them.

[Bmac]

To update my post, the proof on the 7yr was actually 116.

[clingman71]

Was at TPS today, and it looked like they just recently got a whole bunch of Willett single barrel selections in stock. If anyone has had opportunity to try any of the new ones, I'm interested in what you have to say about them.

Any wheated? The 17 y/o barrel 14a wheated was excellent.

[cbus]

No idea. Didn't ask about them because I wasn't there to get bourbon (necessarily...though I did pick up a bottle of rittenhouse, since I never seem able to find it anywhere) but to my recollection there were five or six new bourbons, as well as what appeared to be a new selection of the willett rye, which took all of my will power to keep from grabbing a bottle of. Was just wondering if anyone had tasted any of them.

[clingman71]

No idea. Didn't ask about them because I wasn't there to get bourbon (necessarily...though I did pick up a bottle of rittenhouse, since I never seem able to find it anywhere) but to my recollection there were five or six new bourbons, as well as what appeared to be a new selection of the willett rye, which took all of my will power to keep from grabbing a bottle of. Was just wondering if anyone had tasted any of them.

Not there to get bourbon????? I'm not sure I understand. I feel light headed, confused. I didn't realize it was possible to visit TPS for reasons beyond bourbon.

[cbus]

Not there to get bourbon????? I'm not sure I understand. I feel light headed, confused. I didn't realize it was possible to visit TPS for reasons beyond bourbon.

Yeah... was lookin for some bubbly for a friend's birthday. That doesn't mean bourbon wasn't on the mind, though.

[florin]

At a family event this weekend a relative was kind enough to share some Willett 5 year bourbon..116 proof. Amazingly smooth for 5 year and that proof. And the most amazing thing...it tasted like liquid peanut butter. I love PB so that is a good thing. Obviously heavy rye recipe, but with a sweetness that results in this peanut butter thing. Anyone else tasted this in the younger Willett Bourbons?

@WT, funny you should mention peanut butter: I have a Willett 5 open, 120.2 proof, Barrel 5178. It has excellent depth and balance, with rye and spices, and no bite whatsoever -- but no peanut butter! On the other hand, I picked up peanut butter in two other bottles: Rowan's Creek and Noah's Mill. All three come from KBD, so it's quite possible that this be a family resemblance. I didn't grow up with PB, and I do not like it in my whiskey...

[PaulO]

I have tasted a flavor like peanuts in Old Overholt at times. I would grab the Willett Rye (if it's as good as their last batch). I think it's the best of all the versions of LDI Rye that different people have bottled; barrel proof :cool:

[wadewood]

At a family event this weekend a relative was kind enough to share some Willett 5 year bourbon..116 proof. Amazingly smooth for 5 year and that proof. And the most amazing thing...it tasted like liquid peanut butter. I love PB so that is a good thing. Obviously heavy rye recipe, but with a sweetness that results in this peanut butter thing. Anyone else tasted this in the younger Willett Bourbons?

KBD has bought barrels from every major distillery in KY except for one. Since the Willett label are all single barrels of something, asking this question really does not make sense.

IMHO, if you are tasting peanuts, likely the source of the barrel is Jim Beam.

[weller_tex]

KBD has bought barrels from every major distillery in KY except for one. Since the Willett label are all single barrels of something, asking this question really does not make sense.

IMHO, if you are tasting peanuts, likely the source of the barrel is Jim Beam.

OK. Guess I figured that amongst the 5 year singke barrels they would pretty much have the same source.

[Bmac]

KBD has bought barrels from every major distillery in KY except for one.

[MrAtomic]

Just a heads-up regarding the new Party Source Willetts. According to Jay, they're expecting bourbons at the following ages: 5, 7, 9, 10 and 21. As Cbus noted, there will also be an LDI rye at "5+" years (Jay's words). He didn't say whether any of the bourbons were wheated, but then again, I didn't ask.

Although I haven't been wowed by some of the Party Source bottlings, I really enjoyed a lot of bourbons from the last round of Willetts. The 8 year olds were full of chocolate and the 3 year old was oily, corny, and fun. The silver wax 13 year old was really interesting, with lots of floral flavors. Unfortunately I didn't get a chance to try the 17.

I'm looking forward to trying the new ones.

[sku]

KBD has bought barrels from every major distillery in KY except for one. Since the Willett label are all single barrels of something, asking this question really does not make sense.

IMHO, if you are tasting peanuts, likely the source of the barrel is Jim Beam.

To me, peanut notes point to Brown Forman.

[weller_tex]

To me, peanut notes point to Brown Forman.

Did not taste like a Beam product at all (I am not a Beam hater). I only had Old Forester once and can't remember much about it. For what it's worth the notes over at the LA Whiskey Society for the younger Willett bourbons also pick up on peanuts, so I guess it isn't just me.

[Rughi]

To me, peanut notes point to Brown Forman.

Beam, Brown Forman... here's another guess, just for fun (I have no info on this).

Maybe it has similar lineage to Cliff's Cracker Jack Old Fitz (distilled by DSP-KY-1; bottled at DSP-KY-31).

Roger

[emil]

Was at TPS today, and it looked like they just recently got a whole bunch of Willett single barrel selections in stock. If anyone has had opportunity to try any of the new ones, I'm interested in what you have to say about them.

Wow. Perfect timing. I'll have to pick up a couple of those when I pass through on Friday.

[Ejmharris]

Any wheated? The 17 y/o barrel 14a wheated was excellent.

I Stopped in TPS today, according to Jay none the new Willets are Wheated.

[Old Lamplighter]

I don't know if it happened today because I have not checked there much in a few days but TPS has listed a number of new Willetts.

[trumpstylz]

1. Which major distillery has KBD not bought barrels from?

2. I was under the impression that peanut butter came from JB and Heavenhill.

[wadewood]

1. Which major distillery has KBD not bought barrels from?

2. I was under the impression that peanut butter came from JB and Heavenhill.

[trumpstylz]

Haha, well put my friend.

I'm pretty sure the lone distillery is either WT or BT/sazerac (or the old barton distillery).

[White Dog]

MM would be my guess.