Willett WFE price increases

[garbanzobean]

I would pay those prices if I were guaranteed a new and awesome celebrity encounter each time I visited.  Running into Bill Murray there last year was one of the more novel things to ever happen to me.  I also appreciate the love the extended family at Willett has put into their distillery, and understand their frustration with secondary markets.  

 

But seriously, no Bill Murray (or equivalent) celebrity experiences, no deal.

[PaulO]

Gee, I remember when these WFEs were around $45.  That seemed like a lot to me, and I didn't know what it was.  At the time I was more interested in OWA or ETL @ ~ $25.  

I wonder how many of these high rollers nowadays realize WFE is sourced?

It seems like most of the big distillers have come out with brands along similar lines: ECBP, KCSB, 4R 10 recipes, and others...

[flahute]

43 minutes ago, PaulO said:

I wonder how many of these high rollers nowadays realize WFE is sourced?

 

They all know. Most of their discussion center around trying to determine the source.

[The Black Tot]

What I keep thinking is how big shoes their new distillate has to fill.

 

Willett has been exceptionally clever at buying other people's honey barrels during glut times, and now they're reaping fantastic rewards for it...

 

...but you can't make more of those. When they're gone, I sure hope their new distillate can keep up. Way too early to say at only 4yrs of age!

[Louisiana]

 

8 minutes ago, The Black Tot said:

What I keep thinking is how big shoes their new distillate has to fill.

 

Willett has been exceptionally clever at buying other people's honey barrels during glut times, and now they're reaping fantastic rewards for it...

 

...but you can't make more of those. When they're gone, I sure hope their new distillate can keep up. Way too early to say at only 4yrs of age!

 

 

Yep. The same way I feel about Smooth Ambler. They haven't been doing it as long as Willett, but had the chance to buy some really good whiskey. And that they did!

 

 

Edited January 17, 2017 by Louisiana

[flahute]

30 minutes ago, Louisiana said:

 

 

 

Yep. The same way I feel about Smooth Ambler. They haven't been doing it as long as Willett, but had the chance to buy some really good whiskey. And that they did!

 

 

And now their single barrel program is suspended due to lack of barrels. They're bringing their wheated distillate to market now earlier than they want to because of it. My fingers are crossed for them that they can weather this.

[Clueby]

Willett-distilled rye has been pretty decent.  I have a bottle of the 3 year old and while young is still pretty tasty.  Are they distilling and aging some bourbon as well other than the stuff that is being released under the Old Bardstown town?  The single bottle I have of that is TERRIBLE.

I'm looking forward to SA wheated.

[flahute]

1 hour ago, Clueby said:

Willett-distilled rye has been pretty decent.  I have a bottle of the 3 year old and while young is still pretty tasty.  Are they distilling and aging some bourbon as well other than the stuff that is being released under the Old Bardstown town?  The single bottle I have of that is TERRIBLE.

I'm looking forward to SA wheated.

Yes, they released a 4yr barrel proof bourbon under the WFE label last year. They have wheated bourbon aging right now too.

[Old Dusty]

8 hours ago, Clueby said:

Willett-distilled rye has been pretty decent.  I have a bottle of the 3 year old and while young is still pretty tasty.  Are they distilling and aging some bourbon as well other than the stuff that is being released under the Old Bardstown town?  The single bottle I have of that is TERRIBLE.

I'm looking forward to SA wheated.

Did you get the 90 proof or the BIB Old Bardstown?  I've had both and the BIB is substantially better. I thought it was in line with the HH BIb's (which are admittedly cheaper). But I would say their rye is more promising so far. And as Steve pointed out they have a wheated mash almost ready. 

[Clueby]

1 hour ago, Old Dusty said:

Did you get the 90 proof or the BIB Old Bardstown?  I've had both and the BIB is substantially better. I thought it was in line with the HH BIb's (which are admittedly cheaper). But I would say their rye is more promising so far. And as Steve pointed out they have a wheated mash almost ready. 

The tan label 90. Ive heard the BIB is better. It would have to be. I like the 3YR Rye.  It's still a bit rough around the edges but pretty tasty. It wasn't bad at 2 years either. Looking forward to trying their wheat when it comes out but their stuff has been pretty hard to come by around here.

[wahlct]

Was at Willett yesterday.  14yr is $204.

[flahute]

2 hours ago, Clueby said:

The tan label 90. Ive heard the BIB is better. It would have to be. I like the 3YR Rye.  It's still a bit rough around the edges but pretty tasty. It wasn't bad at 2 years either. Looking forward to trying their wheat when it comes out but their stuff has been pretty hard to come by around here.

I've tried both sbs and the BIB is a fair amount better than the 90. 

[jvd99]

On 1/17/2017 at 9:58 AM, wahlct said:

Was at Willett yesterday.  14yr is $204.

 

That's just stupid IMO. 

[Richnimrod]

2 hours ago, jvd99 said:

 

That's just stupid IMO. 

Price may be 'stupid' in your opinion (and out of my general affordability range for sure); but it may be very nice Bourbon..... just sayin'.

One man's foolhardy purchase may be another man's worthy splurge.    It'll sell at that price.   I guarantee it.

[Bourbonmakesmepoop]

I'm curious to know, I realize that price is subjective but what would one of these WFE bottles be compared to on a level of taste and complexity? I've never had the pleasure of trying one.... would this 14 year be comparable to a four roses small batch LE or BTAC? Or is it not even close to that caliber of bourbon?

[Old Dusty]

47 minutes ago, Bourbonmakesmepoop said:

I'm curious to know, I realize that price is subjective but what would one of these WFE bottles be compared to on a level of taste and complexity? I've never had the pleasure of trying one.... would this 14 year be comparable to a four roses small batch LE or BTAC? Or is it not even close to that caliber of bourbon?

It's a 14 year age stated barrel proof single barrel. With those specs you could certainly make the argument that it is the same league as BTAC. None of those are single barrel and some are barrel proof some are not. The age is greater than Handy and WLW. A little less than GTS,ER and Saz. However you also wouldn't be way out of line comparing it to ECBP (a little younger at 12 and batched not single barrel) or as you mention a FR PS(cask strength and single barrel but again skewing much younger than 14). At retail price of over $200 though it blows the cost doors off all of those. Secondary values I don't know. And also you have no idea who made what's in the bottle as opposed to all of the others above. 

 

And you asked about taste and complexity. Those vary from bottling to bottling because Willett has multiple sources and no two barrels will necessarily yield anywhere near the same taste.

Edited January 18, 2017 by Old Dusty

[Bourbonmakesmepoop]

5 minutes ago, Old Dusty said:

It's a 14 year age stated barrel proof single barrel. With those specs you could certainly make the argument that it is the same league as BTAC. None of those are single barrel and some are barrel proof some are not. The age is greater than Handy and WLW. A little less than GTS,ER and Saz. However you also wouldn't be way out of line comparing it to ECBP (a little younger at 12 and batched not single barrel) or as you mention a FR PS(cask strength and single barrel but again skewing much younger than 14). At retail price of over $200 though it blows the cost doors off all of those. Secondary values I don't know. And also you have no idea who made what's in the bottle as opposed to all of the others above. 

 

And you asked about taste and complexity. Those vary from bottling to bottling because Willett has multiple sources and no two barrels will necessarily yield anywhere near the same taste.

Thanks, sounds like a fair assessment.

[jvd99]

I'm not critcizing the contents of the 14 year, just that the price is getting to be comical.  If it's comparable to BTAC, it's double the price and if it's comparable to a FR private selection, it's close to 4x the price (my local is at $51, but the majors are like $64).  That's a ridiculous price even if the contents are exceptional.  If people want to spend that much scratch, so be it, but I'll spend my money elsewhere.

[PaulO]

I feel more or less the same way.  

On the other hand, I can't argue with their business model since it all sells.

Still I'm put off by the lack of transparency.

[JoeTerp]

If it's still selling then the price makes sense (even if many of us wouldn't pay that for it).  

[0895]

On 1/16/2017 at 10:10 PM, Clueby said:

Willett-distilled rye has been pretty decent.  I have a bottle of the 3 year old and while young is still pretty tasty.  Are they distilling and aging some bourbon as well other than the stuff that is being released under the Old Bardstown town? 

 

On 1/16/2017 at 11:24 PM, flahute said:

Yes, they released a 4yr barrel proof bourbon under the WFE label last year. They have wheated bourbon aging right now too.

 

 

I tried the Willett self distilled "family estate"  4 year bourbon and 3 year rye side by side back in March of 2016 in the gift shop.

I dumped the bourbon out into the spittoon and came home with a bottle of the 3 year rye.

Not that everyone's pallet will agree with mine, but they are doing much better on their house ryes.

 

My 13 year WFE (fall of 2016) sourced bourbon says "distilled in KY"  so probably Heaven Hill or Beam.  Wish it was four roses, but I'm not that lucky...

Edited January 19, 2017 by 0895

[flahute]

16 minutes ago, 0895 said:

 

 

 

I tried the Willett self distilled "family estate"  4 year bourbon and 3 year rye side by side back in March of 2016 in the gift shop.

I dumped the bourbon out into the spittoon and came home with a bottle of the 3 year rye.

Not that everyone's pallet will agree with mine, but they are doing much better on their house ryes.

 

My 13 year WFE (fall of 2016) sourced bourbon says "distilled in KY"  so probably Heaven Hill or Beam.  Wish it was four roses, but I'm not that lucky...

I have a bottle of 4yr WFE bourbon and I have to agree, it's challenging. Tastes too young in the same way that some Heaven Hill whiskey tastes when it's too young. Perhaps the similar aging environment effects things the same way.

 

The older Willett barrels come from places other than the two you mentioned (as well as those two) so you never know. Not from Four Roses though.

[0895]

2 minutes ago, flahute said:

I have a bottle of 4yr WFE bourbon and I have to agree, it's challenging. Tastes too young in the same way that some Heaven Hill whiskey tastes when it's too young. Perhaps the similar aging environment effects things the same way.

 

The older Willett barrels come from places other than the two you mentioned (as well as those two) so you never know. Not from Four Roses though.

Interesting and good point on the aging and proximity to HH.  Seems like being on that hill makes some stuff "hot and mean".

 

Curiously, where else would 13 year old sourced bourbon have come from in KY?  Bernheim and Barton come to mind.  I know I've tasted barton juice in a bottle of Rowan's creek from 2012 -it has a very specific taste.

[flahute]

4 minutes ago, 0895 said:

Interesting and good point on the aging and proximity to HH.  Seems like being on that hill makes some stuff "hot and mean".

 

Curiously, where else would 13 year old sourced bourbon have come from in KY?  Bernheim and Barton come to mind.  I know I've tasted barton juice in a bottle of Rowan's creek from 2012 -it has a very specific taste.

Both of those are distinct possibilities as well as Brown Forman and Old Forester in particular.

[Old Dusty]

7 hours ago, flahute said:

Both of those are distinct possibilities as well as Brown Forman and Old Forester in particular.

Several of us tasted the 12yr bottles they released at KBF and at Sampler last year. The consensus on both was Brown-Forman. Basically a single barrel cask strength Birthday Bourbon. Not a bad thing.