Willett Family Estate Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon 13 Year

Following Cream of KY 13 year. In a sort of “night of the 13 year-olds” this game second. Barrel 1412, #82 of 123 and 126.6 proof. Very nice caramel color, slow tear drop legs. At first oak and leather hit the nose then it evolves - rock candy, floral notes, slight dusty funk, caramel, bubblegum. Very slight ethanol, especially for the proof. Spice and vanilla, a tingle and flavor slowly fades into heat in the chest. Lingering sweetness. Second approach I get more oak and leather back again. I would say this drinks well below its proof. Later on more earthy notes, spearmint and fennel and something like wet, brown pipe tobacco. This is a relic, and if I had to guess something that is largely Heaven Hill. The dusty oak funk, bubblegum and tad of spearmint remind me of Elijah Craig. To prove a point I brought out an EC 13y store pick at 90 proof that’s been open ~2y and half way down. It has a distinct dust floor and leather cowboy boot flavor but with the same dusty bubblegum and spearmint notes. Hail to what this bottle is, whatever it may be. It is truly fantastic and is among the best I’ve had. May there be others like it one day.