Willett's as a brand does not interest me at all

[thebwood]

Or, this.

:toast:

Hah, sorry - I did not mean to post a highly critical opinion right after your own. :grin: I poured a small glass as I was typing my post, so I still stand with my assessment.

How long has your bottle been open? When I first opened mine, I distinctly remember thinking (and posting) that it was "OK" for a 2 year old rye, and showed some promise. But it seems like my bottle turned very fast. Or maybe I got over the novelty of it and listened to my palate.

[smokinjoe]

Hah, sorry - I did not mean to post a highly critical opinion right after your own. :grin: I poured a small glass as I was typing my post, so I still stand with my assessment.

How long has your bottle been open? When I first opened mine, I distinctly remember thinking (and posting) that it was "OK" for a 2 year old rye, and showed some promise. But it seems like my bottle turned very fast. Or maybe I got over the novelty of it and listened to my palate.

No problem. As I've said many times, I hate the idea of attempting consensus, so even when opinions differ drastically from my own, I'm AOK with it. Though, I'm letting you go first on the next review!!!

My only tastings are from a bottle that was brought to our last GBS meet-up. It's not mine, so I don't know how long it was open, but I think it was open when it hit the table. Had two long and thoughtful pours of it, and enjoyed both. I have to stand by my own assessment, as well. Suffice to say, I didn't get the putridity and, rotten sewage...! I'll make it a point to pick up my own this week and give it another whirl. We'll see how that goes.

[thebwood]

No problem. As I've said many times, I hate the idea of attempting consensus, so even when opinions differ drastically from my own, I'm AOK with it. Though, I'm letting you go first on the next review!!!

My only tastings are from a bottle that was brought to our last GBS meet-up. It's not mine, so I don't know how long it was open, but I think it was open when it hit the table. Had two long and thoughtful pours of it, and enjoyed both. I have to stand by my own assessment, as well. Suffice to say, I didn't get the putridity and, rotten sewage...! I'll make it a point to pick up my own this week and give it another whirl. We'll see how that goes.

Haha, fair enough, I'm up first on the next one. :toast:

And I really hesitated using the "putrid/rotten" description, because I know it comes across as an over-the-top internet rant, but it really is what comes to mind.

I look forward to your impressions if you pick up a bottle.

[bin31z]

I had similar experience. Was ok when first opened, but a week later, it had a distinct rotting fruit note to it.

[flahute]

Interesting. Mine actually got better after being open a while. Whadd'ya gonna do?

Drink more whiskey.

[sailor22]

Which of the three different releases of the 2yr rye are you guy arguing about?

[flahute]

Not sure I'd call it "arguing", but for what it's worth, mine is the first batch.

[bin31z]

I mean...in the end, there is a reason that bourbon brands play the smoke and mirrors games with their products. Just look at the orphan barrels. Even the willetts name is confusing as the brand today has nothing to do with the brand of yesteryear. How does scotch get so much recognition and distinguish from proudly displaying their brand and age while a lot of time American bourbons do their best to hide the origin of their distillate as much as possible? Is it maybe because a lot of bourbon is actually distilled by a very small number of distilleries and then dressed up and sold as different products? Anyways, in the end I do respect the brand for making their own juice but it's just not a good product to me and they should own up to the fact that's just not ready yet instead of flooding the market with it. I seriously see dozens of bottles sitting at every store I go to. So much for being a small craft distillery, most shops have more of this stuff than Ewsb, ec12, four roses, or etl.

[GaryT]

Which of the three different releases of the 2yr rye are you guy arguing about?

I brought mine to the GBS, which was the 108.1 proof (no idea what batch that is; only one I've seen in ATL). It was opened 7/18/2014, so about a month prior to the GBS meeting. I just made several 2oz archive samples of this, as I look forward to tasting the evolution in 2, 4, 6, 8 years (or whatever interval they release new expressions). I haven't noticed any significant shift in mine since the bottle opened.

[GaryT]

Anyways, in the end I do respect the brand for making their own juice but it's just not a good product to me and they should own up to the fact that's just not ready yet instead of flooding the market with it.

Do you really respect the brand? As several folks have pointed out, if it ain't hitting your palate, that's fair. But you seem to be hung up on them doing some disservice for offering a product that you (and apparently a lot of other people) are paying them money for, and that this is something they should "own up to" because you didn't like it?

[BigRich]

I found it to be an exceptional 2 year old rye. My tastings came from Gary's bottle. My only issue is that I'm not paying $35-$40 for a bottle of 2 year old rye.

Now pass my another two bottles of Rittenhouse please

[garbanzobean]

I can't believe I forgot the first thing that turned me off from Willett: Willett Pot Still Reserve (AKA BBQ marinade after trying the bottle a few times) is seriously unappealing to me. It tastes like high test candy corn mixed with wood chips. It is, without question, the worst bourbon I have ever had. I read so many mediocre/bad reviews of it, but I ignored them because I wanted to like it.

At any rate, they should either rename WPSR or put better bourbon in it.

[Josh]

I think KBD's longest running problem has been inconsistency. I've had Willett Pot Still that was good and some that was not very good. Same with their other brands. That's the biggest reason why I don't buy their stuff on a regular basis.

[squire]

Which is one of the reasons I don't buy their stuff at all. Elijah Craig may not always score a bullseye but it's never a complete miss either.

[bin31z]

Do you really respect the brand? As several folks have pointed out, if it ain't hitting your palate, that's fair. But you seem to be hung up on them doing some disservice for offering a product that you (and apparently a lot of other people) are paying them money for, and that this is something they should "own up to" because you didn't like it?

[jp_stargazer]

I am not sure which batch of the 2 yr rye I have but I had some last night and thought it had improved since opening (maybe 1 month ago?). I remember my first taste being overwhelmingly minty, now it is still strong mint but there is other subtle flavor that balances it a bit better. I didn't sample enough to pick out the other new flavors, it was almost bedtime. :22:

Concerning WPSR, I have enjoyed the KBD profile in bottles of Kentucky Vintage/Pure Kentucky and, most notably, Johnny Drum Private Stock. With that said, the bottle of WPSR I tasted was not significantly better to me than the aforementioned KBD bottles. Perhaps variability was the reason. So for <$30 (when I can find it), I purchase JDPS.

Jason

[jmj_203]

I think their labels look neat. That's about as far as I've gotten, though. I'm honestly looking forward to the day they release a Willett-distilled appropriately aged barrel proof bourbon for me to try. If I ever saw a sourced WFE single barrel (barrel proof) bourbon bottling in a store for a relatively reasonable price, I'd probably buy it (once) due to my love of barrel proof bourbon. And the label. Which, as I have mentioned, is neat.

Blind fanboi-ism for Willett has ruined a couple blogs for me as of late. That's disappointing, I suppose. At any rate, if anyone REALLY wants to try WFE's 2yr rye, you should come to Maryland. I can think of 3-4 stores offhand that have it sitting around for $40-$50.

Edited September 9, 2014 by jmj_203

[garbanzobean]

I totally agree with this sentiment. Enjoying Willet products is fine, if that is your thing have at it and buy it up, and leave more bottles of all the other bourbons for me to buy. Lately anymore I refuse to buy my first ever bottle of Willet because I'm so disgusted and turned off by the fanatical FANBOYISM following that Willet has garnered. Its so bad you can criticize almost any NDP on any forum, but Willet will have even respected longtime members of many many whiskey forums bashing or attacking people simply for stating their dislike of Willet. Everyone is entitled to dislike or like any brand, but willet truly has the Fanatical Fanboy appeal for some odd reason, and its a HUGE turnoff for me. Too hipstery too teenybopperish to me. And all of the statements the OP had for why he doesn't ever wish to buy or support Willet i totally agree with, and they're the main reasons why I won't buy it either, ever. Now maybe I'm hypocritical, but Old Scout 7r bourbon and 10 yr bourbon I'll buy that shit up all day and take any people don't want, but thats because of lots of bottles drank and lots of love for the juice they put out at a much more reasonable price than Willet. Still a NDP tho....so call me a hypocrite.

[squire]

It's not hypocritical to buy what you like for any reason you think worthwhile. I will buy Old Scout but won't buy any Willett.

[dcbt]

I will buy Old Scout but won't buy any Willett.

[sob0728]

I will buy Old Scout but won't buy any Willett.

The fact that the Smooth Ambler Old Scout private barrel selections are 1/3 the price of Willett at the same age, proof, and possibly provenance make that an easy decision.

[bin31z]

The fact that the Smooth Ambler Old Scout private barrel selections are 1/3 the price of Willett at the same age, proof, and possibly provenance make that an easy decision.

My sentiment too. If I have to buy blind, I would expect a price cut vs big labels like heaven hill and bt. Indy bottling of scotch often costs less and have more interesting barrels than the official releases. Since bourbons all use the same kind of barrels, doesn't make sense to pay more to buy a bottle with mystery distillery.

[bin31z]

And it boggles my mind that people trip over themselves to buy 12 year mystery bottles for $150.

[flahute]

The fact that the Smooth Ambler Old Scout private barrel selections are 1/3 the price of Willett at the same age, proof, and possibly provenance make that an easy decision.

Apart from the 4-6 yr ryes, it's not the same provenance. All the Old Scouts come from MGP. The Willetts come from Heaven Hill, Brown-Forman, Beam, and possibly others.

[sailor22]

And it boggles my mind that people trip over themselves to buy 12 year mystery bottles for $150.

If your buying the bottle just because of the label and the age then that statement makes sense. If you have knowledge of what that particular barrel tastes like and consider it outstanding or unique then the price seems much more reasonable.