Willett Pot Still Reserve Bourbon

I should’ve gotten around to this one a long time ago. I’m a big fan of Rowan’s Creek and Noah Mill’s, but this is the one that got me into the distillery years ago. I’m happy to finally get to sit and take the time to critically evaluate this one. Nose: Dusty corn and newspaper. Cocoa and black tea. Vanilla and caramel. Some pipe smoke. Hay. Orange rind. Sugar cookie. This definitely falls into that spicier category of bourbon noses. Allspice, clove, and nutmeg. Cinnamon and oak. Palate: Brown sugar, almond, caramel, and fudge. Vanilla. Sawdust and newspaper. Dried apricot. Orange rind, black pepper, pipe smoke. Vanilla and toffee. Almond and walnut. Oak. Finish: Cherry and dried apricot. Brown sugar and caramel. Almond and walnut. Cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, allspice, black and white pepper, and oak. Moderate length finish. It’s a really nice little whiskey. Willett clearly puts a lot of effort into all of their products. I know some of the age statements used to be quite a bit higher in the past, but let’s be honest; that was charity as far as bang for buck goes. A bit on the younger side as far as the profile goes. I can’t say I always remember it having quality, which is not a good thing considering the direction that the distillery decided to take Noah’s Mill and Rowan’s Creek. However, this is little detriment in the grand scheme of things. And that manifests mainly in the nose and not really on the tongue. This one improves the longer it sits in the glass, and is easy enough on a beginner but provides a level of intrigue that can keep a more experience drinker entertained. Worth keeping on your shelf, especially when considering the $45 price tag. 4/5 even.

I received this as a gift. I have seen this on the shelves but it was never on my ‘buy it now’ list. One of the fancier bottles that have seen. This one has an enigma to me. I have not heard or read much of this Willett and I never happened to or come across or tasted prior to tonight. A quiet opportunity finds me and a pour (or two) to mull over. N: A gentle greeting upon the nose of light sweetness, floral and earthiness. Candy corn, honeysuckle, vanilla all encased in oak. P: The body is thin. A mouthful of honey and caramel sweetness tempered by mild peppery spice. There are small hints of lemon and strawberries that adds to the sweetness bowl. F: Inverse to the starting and mid palate flavors, the finish is delicately spicy. Cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and pumpernickel. The vanilla and honey remnants keep the spice in check. O: Stowed in a Genie bottle, the liquid inside keeps metamorphosing. The aromas on the nose are few but bright. Changing on the palate, the transformation from sweetness to spiciness begins. More tangible and qualities are realized. Then at last a full spicy and long lasting finish is realized. The strongest part of this bourbon is born. This is an easy and approachable whiskey. Simple. The lack of overall complexity keeps this from being a first reach. But the finish does keep this one a strong pour and what I feel makes a good whiskey and great whiskey: the finish. Enjoyable. [87/100][Tasted: 1/24/25]

A balanced, hand-selected, limited, Kentucky straight Bourbon, aged 8-10 years, introduced in 2008. It has a delicate birth (a bit cognac-y) with notes of jasmine, vanilla, sweet corn, cinnamon & ginger; while a woody life adds hints of nut, oak, black tea, butterscotch, lemon, dried corn, rye & banana; that lead to a spicy death of medium length with notes of herbs & rye. December 2017 / May 2018 / August 2022

I did not jibe with this bourbon a ton. It tastes and smells young but not in a particularly pleasant way. The graininess just provides an unpleasant overall note to the bourbon. I otherwise get nice sweetness, some spicness as well on the palate. The finish is short and wheaty. At the end of the day i just eant more out of the bourbon and its too expensive to justify buying again.

NEAT: fruit forward on the nose with hints of baking spices and honey. Smells almost buttery, but in a good way. Some vanilla. Apple. Very rich with a creamy mouthfeel. Sweet. Getting some apples, cherries, dates. Taste lingers for quite some time and is very pleasant. Very warming as well. A solid pour. Glad I grabbed the 1.75L bottle.

This bottle was a gift! The bottle is gorgeous but so hard to display! This is spicy with cinnamon, red hots, black pepper, with some traditional notes of caramel and vanilla and oak! Overall not a bad pour! I don't understand the overwhelming hate this bottle gets. Its nothing amazing but its also not bad at all! I would buy it again!