Willett Family Estate Rye Whiskey - 4 y.o. - 54,8%

Volume: 0.7 litres | Alcohol content: 54.8% | Chill filtration: No | Colouring: No

Special Features:

Willett Family Estate Rye is a four-year-old small-batch bottling whose recipe draws inspiration from the flavour profile of historic Maryland rye whiskeys. Willett blends whiskeys made from two different mash bills: 90% of the blend is whiskey distilled from 74% rye, 11% corn and 15% barley, while the remaining 10% is whiskey distilled from 51% rye, 34% corn and 15% barley. This combination is designed to balance fruit and spice.

The whiskey matures for four years in white oak barrels. This official bottling is presented at cask strength at 54.8% in a 0.7-litre bottle; it is neither chill-filtered nor coloured.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: On the nose, cherries with a liqueur-like depth sit above lightly tart cherry fruit. Sweet dessert notes open into cinnamon and baking spices, accompanied by a hint of oak.
• Palate: On the palate, pronounced rye combines with dark cherry, vanilla with a lightly charred note, and lingering spices. The high alcohol content is well integrated, while the texture feels full and substantial.
• Finish: The finish is long and distinctly driven by spice, while cherry remains subtle in the background.

Distillery/Bottler:

The Willett Distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky, was founded by Thompson Willett in 1936 on the family's former livestock farm; the first barrel entered Warehouse A in March 1937. The family's experience in distilling dates back to the period following the American Civil War. The independent company remains family-run today, with Britt and Drew Kulsveen representing its fifth generation at the distillery. Drew Kulsveen's work on additional mash bills and the precise blending of whiskey finds tangible expression in the concept behind this rye. Willett handles the distillation, maturation and bottling itself in Bardstown.

Facts: