Willett Family Estate Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon 6 Year

Liquor Barn “High Corn 1”, barrel # 8267, 124.4 proof I finally acquired this highly sought-after Willett purple top! Does it live up to the reputation? Let's find out... Nose: Offers buttered popcorn, vanilla, caramel, subtle oak, and a hint of barrel char. Very little ethanol. The popcorn note is pleasant, but honestly, the aroma is somewhat subdued. Palate: Begins with the buttery corn from the nose, followed by rich vanilla, plum, date, raisin, black cherry, cookie dough, walnut, and a distinct 'funk.' To be more precise, this funk is earthy, musty, and reminiscent of root vegetables (like turnip or rhubarb?). Regardless, it's quite captivating and encourages repeated sips. Complex and impactful. Finish: Sweet and spicy with cinnamon, pepper, baked apple, nutmeg, and burnt caramel. Exactly what I seek in a bourbon. The mouthfeel is medium-bodied and effervescent, with a slight alcohol tingle. I'd say this largely meets the hype. I traded a 2021 RR13 bought at retail for it, so my cost was $69.99. Retail price exceeds $100, and secondary market prices are astronomical. Is it worth the retail cost? Absolutely. Secondary market? Not in my opinion. Nevertheless, it's top-tier.

This is Barrell #4751, a Center Point Wine and Liquors selection. 127.6 Proof After discussing bourbon with the proprietor and being a regular patron, we retrieved this bottle. Let's assess its qualities... The aroma presents vanilla, cinnamon, and other baking spices, evoking a strong Christmas essence, reminiscent of Rowan's Creek and the Pot Still. Deeper within the scent, a dark fruit note emerges, akin to plum. The taste immediately delivers those baking spices intensely. It's potent yet not overwhelming like some other barrel proofs. Subsequently, it delves into the barrel, revealing pleasant oak characteristics. A few sips in, I introduced some water, which it readily accepts. The conclusion is satisfyingly extended. An initial warmth accompanies its descent, followed by flavors that persist on the palate. As this expression strongly recalls other Willett offerings, I elected to compare it with the Pot Still and Rowan's Creek. Clearly, the Willett 6yr, being of considerably higher proof, distinguishes itself. However, I found the Rowan's Creek possessed a pleasing depth despite its 50.05% abv. I believe I favor the Willett 6yr, but further tastings will be necessary for a definitive judgment.

Served neat. First pour. A store selection. The nose is intensely fruity, with cherry and strawberry. Intense vanilla and toffee. Very subtle oak, but a good amount of spice at the end. It feels thinner than expected for a barrel-proof spirit. The alcohol is extremely forward on the palate. I don't usually experience that much burn. Working past the alcohol, the fruity flavors dominate the palate with their sweetness, complemented by the spice. Burnt caramel. Intense cherry and vanilla. This is potent stuff with intense flavors. I'm now detecting a deep chocolate note in the legs. It's essentially a cherry cordial connecting these flavors. This marks my first encounter with WFE Bourbon. Initially, the nose seemed a bit generic, and the alcohol-forward nature was disappointing. However, the intense flavors throughout ultimately won me over completely. Truly delicious. It left my mouth numb, though. That aspect detracts points, but I now understand the excitement surrounding these bottles.

Barrel 12K09-2136 Warehouse A Floor 2 Rick 11 Barrel date - 11/9/12 Bottle date - 7/5/19 BTL 50/58 124.8 Proof Initial pour in a Norlan glass, allowed to rest for 15 minutes. Added a splash of water. Upfront, notes of sticky sweet honey and vanilla. Hints of lemon and orange zest, dark chocolate, black plums, nutmeg, and cinnamon blend harmoniously. Lingering cherry cola notes. The nose is very smooth, perhaps a bit reserved for the proof. Honey and vanilla are prominent initially, followed by fruity pastry notes. Imagine pear tart with whipped cream. Before these sweet elements dominate, there's a pleasant hit of oak char and pumpkin pie spice. The mouthfeel is excellent, with great viscosity and body. What truly stands out is the finish, characterized by chocolate malted milk balls and vanilla, lasting for minutes. Absolutely outstanding and memorable. This is my first experience with WFE, and I'm very impressed with what they've achieved in just over 6 years. This bottle contains a lot.

A truly distinctive bourbon. I only had a small sample, but it's unlike anything I've encountered. The aroma is very light and herbal, while the palate is quite dry, reminiscent of grapes and medicine. I'd need another taste to discern more, but it is certainly one-of-a-kind. I utilize the rating system outlined below. The distiller uses a 5-point scale, and I use a 10-point scale, but I'm sure you're not too inebriated to figure that out! 1. Awful - So bad I discarded it. 2. Subpar - I would avoid drinking it. 3. Flawed - Contains numerous imperfections. 4. Underwhelming - Not terrible, but many preferable options exist. 5. Average - Simply satisfactory. 6. Quite Good - Superior to average. 7. Excellent - Significantly above average. 8. Outstanding - In a class of its own. 9. Phenomenal - An all-time favorite. 10. Flawless

6 Years Old 62% Alcohol by Volume Barrel 2064 21C Private Selection Aroma: cinnamon, but otherwise, the scent was faint, nothing stood out. The high alcohol content is pleasantly present in the mouth. The finish is more cinnamon, it lingers. It was satisfactory... I expected more complexity, more fruitiness, or sweetness, more caramel, more oak... It didn't have what I truly enjoy in a whiskey.