Willett

[Carnagusfarnbuckler]

I would like to know your thoughts on the Willett brand.  I have read many reviews of Willett products and most of them are sort of ho hum but every time I see a review on the Willett Family Estate Bottled Bourbon it is usually great.  What do you think makes it so much better than the rest of the Willett line?

[BottledInBond]

Is your question specifically about the Willett Pot Still Reserve? 

 

I think many people here think of the Pot Still Reserve as a gimmick bottle, with many actually annoyed by the bottle size shape as a pain for their shelves, and the whiskey in said bottle to be both special at all. Then again, most of the stuff Willett bottles (the KBD stuff) besides the WFE line is nothing special these days. I think it’s pretty clear that over time they have kept the best barrels they have had access to for the WFE releases, and dumped the rest in all their other labels. I avoid all of that stuff, except the Old Bardstown BIB that they are now putting out with their own distillate in it at a reasonable price. It can taste a little grainy but I like it for what it is, and you can tell the family resemblance to the house distilled WFE ryes 2-5 they’ve been putting out I think. 

 

The WFEs are a unique beast in general as they have been sourced from all over in the past. Hard to compare Barrel to barrel without tasting them. Clearly I think many of them have been very good. I haven’t drank their kool-aid enough to think that they have all been great by any means. And that 80th anniversary stuff was just awful for the $. 

[Carnagusfarnbuckler]

40 minutes ago, BottledInBond said:

Is your question specifically about the Willett Pot Still Reserve? 

 

I think many people here think of the Pot Still Reserve as a gimmick bottle, with many actually annoyed by the bottle size shape as a pain for their shelves, and the whiskey in said bottle to be both special at all. Then again, most of the stuff Willett bottles (the KBD stuff) besides the WFE line is nothing special these days. I think it’s pretty clear that over time they have kept the best barrels they have had access to for the WFE releases, and dumped the rest in all their other labels. I avoid all of that stuff, except the Old Bardstown BIB that they are now putting out with their own distillate in it at a reasonable price. It can taste a little grainy but I like it for what it is, and you can tell the family resemblance to the house distilled WFE ryes 2-5 they’ve been putting out I think. 

 

The WFEs are a unique beast in general as they have been sourced from all over in the past. Hard to compare Barrel to barrel without tasting them. Clearly I think many of them have been very good. I haven’t drank their kool-aid enough to think that they have all been great by any means. And that 80th anniversary stuff was just awful for the $. 

Yes, mainly the Pot Still Reserve but also the Old Bardstown, Pure Kentucky, and Kentucky Vintage.  Thanks you have answered the question about the Willett Family Estate Bottled Bourbon. 

[Obeezy1Kaneezy]

I really enjoy a lot of the KBD brands.  Pure Kentucky, Kentucky Vintage, & Johnny Drumm mostly.  They might be a little inconsistent, but I’ve never came across one that was terrible either. 

[jeffrey r]

42 minutes ago, Carnagusfarnbuckler said:

Yes, mainly the Pot Still Reserve but also the Old Bardstown, Pure Kentucky, and Kentucky Vintage.  Thanks you have answered the question about the Willett Family Estate Bottled Bourbon. 

Many Willett bourbons are like a box of chocolates--you never know what you're going to get.  I have always been a fan of Pure Kentucky--it is a nice proof at 107, and has some interesting notes.  But again, since it is sourced, it's not a sure thing.  But this, and Kentucky Vintage, Johnny Drum, etc., have their proponents and detractors.  The Pot Still Reserve seems to be most universally disliked, but I have never had it in all these years.  You'll need to give some of these a go for yourself.  In my area, the KBD lineup (Pure Kentucky, Kentucky Vintage, Johnny Drum, etc.) are $35 bottles, so not the most expensive in the world if you want to give one a try.  YMMV.

[kevinbrink]

39 minutes ago, jeffrey r said:

Many Willett bourbons are like a box of chocolates--you never know what you're going to get.  I have always been a fan of Pure Kentucky--it is a nice proof at 107, and has some interesting notes.  But again, since it is sourced, it's not a sure thing.  But this, and Kentucky Vintage, Johnny Drum, etc., have their proponents and detractors.  The Pot Still Reserve seems to be most universally disliked, but I have never had it in all these years.  You'll need to give some of these a go for yourself.  In my area, the KBD lineup (Pure Kentucky, Kentucky Vintage, Johnny Drum, etc.) are $35 bottles, so not the most expensive in the world if you want to give one a try.  YMMV.

The only KBD bottle I've had that was downright terrible was a recent Noah's Mill which is particularly unfortunate since it is the top dog in the lineup.  

[fosmith]

I thought the 4 yo rye was very good.  The 126 proof batch was awesome. 

[ThirstyinOhio]

The WFE older bottles that were sourced are usually pretty good to excellent and they check off all of the boxes that a lot of bourbon guys are looking for being single barrel, age stated, barrel proof and nonchill filtered.  That doesn't mean all of them are great and I've had a few bottles that I thought were average at best. I have also really enjoyed several of their 4 and 5 year ryes and bourbons that they have released under the Willett Family Estate line as well.

 

I may be in the minority, but I actually like their non WFE usually too.  The Noah's Mill and Rowan Creek are often in my rotation and I always have a bottle of their Old Bardstown Bottled in Bond open.

[Obeezy1Kaneezy]

10 hours ago, fosmith said:

I thought the 4 yo rye was very good.  The 126 proof batch was awesome. 

 

Good God that bottle is a-maze-ing.  I’ve got two left. 

[AndyD]

The willet postill is an annoying bottle, as stated above.  If the juice is good, no reason for a bottle like that.  I’ve heard they have been harder to find nowadays, but it’s all over here in MN.

[Clueby]

58 minutes ago, AndyD said:

The willet postill is an annoying bottle, as stated above.  If the juice is good, no reason for a bottle like that.  I’ve heard they have been harder to find nowadays, but it’s all over here in MN.

I think it's a cool, unique bottle but takes up a lot of room! When PS was a single barrel it was better. Now its average at best. Those bottles are treated as unicorns here. I was at a lottery where someone selected a 1.75 Pot Still over BTAC.

[Justin]

On 2/26/2019 at 11:41 PM, Obeezy1Kaneezy said:

 

Good God that bottle is a-maze-ing.  I’ve got two left. 

The 110.2 is also a fantastic pour.  I am picking up pear, flower blossoms, and juicy fruit on the nose, and caramel, pine, mint, and black pepper on the palate.

[0895]

1 hour ago, Justin said:

The 110.2 is also a fantastic pour.  I am picking up pear, flower blossoms, and juicy fruit on the nose, and caramel, pine, mint, and black pepper on the palate.

 

Oh, hey, I just opened that batch. 

Agree with your notes. 

 it’s very good!

[TimeWillTell]

the WFE 4yr Rye I have had (114, 109, 102) have all been amazing. It doesn't come to OK unfortunately but when I visit family I always grab a bottle or two. Probably my favorite whiskey right now

[Obeezy1Kaneezy]

Thread bump inspired me

 

 

[TimeWillTell]

1 minute ago, Obeezy1Kaneezy said:

Thread bump inspired me

 

 

Love it! I hope I find the 126 to try! 

[Adam777]

Yes!, the WFE 4 year rye is awesome. Mine tastes like apple pie and is very unique. I’ve had Noah’s Mill last summer while in Boston for a Pearl Jam concert and it was excellent. The flavors were unique and vibrant. I’ve tasted NM since then and it was mediocre at best. So some variability with some of their bourbons.

[Skinsfan1311]

On 2/26/2019 at 11:20 AM, Carnagusfarnbuckler said:

Yes, mainly the Pot Still Reserve but also the Old Bardstown, Pure Kentucky, and Kentucky Vintage.  Thanks you have answered the question about the Willett Family Estate Bottled Bourbon. 

I've had the Old Bardstown, Pure Kentucky, Kentucky Vintage, Johnny Drum & Family Estate 3 year.  I like them all, very much.  I do not care for the Pot Still Reserve.

We visited Willet, a few weeks ago, it's a beautiful distillery.

[FatherOfPugs]

I enjoy the Pot Still when in the mood. The bottle I have has a very distinct flavor to it, not in a bad way, just have to be in the mood for it. 

[alcoholica]

3 hours ago, FatherOfPugs said:

I enjoy the Pot Still when in the mood. The bottle I have has a very distinct flavor to it, not in a bad way, just have to be in the mood for it. 

The bottle I had was loaded with cinnamon and spice. It was very, very good. But I know that Willett across the board is very inconsistent 

[FatherOfPugs]

43 minutes ago, alcoholica said:

The bottle I had was loaded with cinnamon and spice. It was very, very good. But I know that Willett across the board is very inconsistent 

That's what I'm finding with Willet. Friends' bottles have tasted a little different, which I thought was interesting. None have been bad, like you said, just not consistent.

[Supercharger]

This makes me want to open my 4 year rye but I’m hesitant since I’ve never seen another one around here. 

Edited May 3, 2019 by Supercharger

[0895]

4 minutes ago, Supercharger said:

This makes me want to open my 4 year rye but I’m hesitant since I’ve never seen another one around here. 

Yeah, so what.

Enjoy it.  

 

If you're that hard up to find another someday, there are options. 

 

[Supercharger]

Yeah, I know. I’ll open it regardless, just more waiting for a special occasion if I know it’s a good bottle if I’m not able to easily find a replacement. 

[Whiskeythink.com]

On 2/27/2019 at 12:11 AM, Clueby said:

 I was at a lottery where someone selected a 1.75 Pot Still over BTAC.

yikes

 

you can get it at the supermarket here